Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Coastal inundation is a huge issue of concern for many communities across my electorate of Monash. Bass Coast Shire Council, South Gippsland Shire Council and the Silverleaves Residents Action Group have been doing tremendous work but have been terribly let down by the Victorian state government, who literally have their heads in the sand about this very significant environmental issue. It's not just my community across Bass Coast and South Gippsland; communities right across Australia are grappling with the issue of coastal inundation. From Noosa to Port Stephens, this is a huge issue of concern, and, unfortunately, state Labor governments have left communities in the lurch.

I've been calling for a nationally coordinated framework to support local communities because groups like the Silverleaves Residents Action Group have been doing tremendous work for many years, but many of those residents are staring down the barrel of losing their homes. Coastal inundation continues to encroach upon many South Gippsland and Bass Coast communities. It is an issue of concern for my electorate and electorates right across Victoria. It's also an issue for the community of Port Melbourne, in the electorate of Macnamara. Victorians and Australians deserve better on the environment.