[Greens-Media] Victorian government has two anti-democracy laws in state parliament

[Amanda.Sharp at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Victorian government has two anti-democracy laws in state parliament

Thursday 6 February 2014

Debate on the Sustainable Timber and Wildlife Amendment bill commenced in 
the state upper house this week. 

"This bill is the first of two draconian pieces of legislation before the 
state parliament that are designed to shut down community scrutiny of 
government activity," Greens MP, Sue Pennicuik said. "The other is the 
Summary Offences and Sentencing Amendment bill, which is still in the 
lower house.

"This bill is one of the most Orwellian named pieces of legislation I have 
seen in this parliament," Ms Pennicuik said. "Far from ensuring that 
logging is sustainable or that wildlife is protected, the bill shuts out 
the public and provides a free for all for loggers and duck shooters, with 
draconian penalties for people who enter forests or wetlands to protest or 
simply to observe what is happening on public land," she said.

"The purpose of the bill is to stop pesky greenies finding endangered 
species in an area that the government plans to log," Greens leader, Greg 
Barber said. 

"The bill provides that entry can be prohibited even before work has 
started," Mr Barber said. "As soon as the minister decides that the 
government wants an area to be a no-go zone, it will be declared that. 

"It is designed to avoid the sort of embarrassment the government has 
experienced recently when it has been caught out damaging the environment 
in breach of the law," Mr Barber said. "It is an absolute disgrace."

With regard to duck shooting, the bill triples the penalty for 'hindering 
or obstructing hunting' and increases penalties sixfold for 'entering or 
remaining in a specified hunting area' or 'approaching a person who is 
hunting.'

"It's just ludicrous," Ms Pennicuik said. "There has been no event or any 
valid reason given that would warrant such a massive increase in 
penalties.
 
"On the contrary, the most horrendous event for many years occurred on the 
opening morning of duck shooting season last year, when hundreds of birds, 
including rare and threatened species, were massacred by around 150 
shooters at the Box Flat private wetland near Boort in Minister Walsh's 
electorate.

"Despite a police and DEPI investigation where shooters who admitted being 
present and the landowners were interviewed, no-one saw anything and no 
charges have been laid," Ms Pennicuik said. 

"The government?s response to this appalling behaviour by shooters at Box 
Flat has been to increase penalties for citizens who are trying to stop 
the annual slaughter of native water birds which the majority of 
Victorians oppose.

"The Sustainable Timber and Wildlife Amendment bill and the Summary 
Offences and Sentencing Amendment bill are both serious attacks on the 
rights of citizens to scrutinise and, if they wish, to oppose and protest 
against the decisions and actions of government," Ms Pennicuik said.

"All Victorians should be concerned at the erosion of their democracy that 
is occurring at the hands of this government."

For further comment: Sue Pennicuik: 0409 055 875


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 

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