Tuesday, 20 June 2023

Firewood collection

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (21:08): (290) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Environment. Further to my previous question on the matter, people in regional Victoria are struggling – struggling to combat rising inflation, the cost of living – and having to make difficult decisions like choosing between staying warm or keeping on the lights. Many of my constituents are still pleading with me to advocate for access to wood collection areas. While the minister argues that wood is a finite resource, I would like to instead point out that wood is in fact a renewable resource, the most renewable one we have. My constituents should not be discriminated against due to their residential area. I ask the minister to remove postcode restrictions while introducing permits for residents outside of the restricted area, allowing wood collection to remain regulated. If the minister cannot herself act on those matters, then I ask for the right regulatory body to be presented with this request.