Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Cormann. Minister, this weekend my constituents in Victoria are faced with an abysmal choice when it comes to electing a government which will save the Victorian animal emblem, the Leadbeater's possum, from extinction. The current Victorian government continues to subsidise clear-fell logging of its habitat and has allowed the loggers to dominate the development of its so-called 'action plan' to save the possum—indeed, it has required ongoing logging as part of the plan. The alternative government yesterday quietly released an environment policy which has been summarised by a leading scientist as 'about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike'. Given the lack of political will from both the government and the opposition in Victoria, will the minister explain to Victorians what this government will do to prevent the Leadbeater's possum from going extinct?