The Allan Labor Government has dumped long-standing plans for a new Great Forest National Park in Victoria's Central Highlands after Electrical Trades Union lobbying.
Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos used his address to the ETU delegates conference this week to publicly rule out the park, blindsiding conservationists, scientists, and Yarra Ranges locals who have spent more than a decade campaigning for it.
The backflip has drawn fierce criticism from environmental groups, who say the decision overrides public consultation, ignores expert advice, and caves in to narrow vested interests.
The Minister's remarks pre-empt two major government-commissioned reports: a 2023 ecological assessment that found the Central Highlands forest worthy of national park protection, and the findings of an Eminent Panel for Community Engagement initiated in 2021 but yet to report publicly.
Polling conducted by RedBridge shows four in five Victorians support the creation of new national parks, with lower-income households among the most frequent park visitors due to their affordability, safety, and accessibility.
The Great Forest National Park proposal has been backed by global conservation icons including Sir David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, and Bob Irwin, father of the late Steve Irwin.
Despite this, the Allan Government's withdrawal of support was quietly released via Field & Game Australia's social media – an organisation that has long opposed new protected areas.
Long-term Campaigner for Great Forest National Park Sarah Rees said:
"The Allan Government has walked away from Labor's promise of new parks for eastern Victoria – siding with fringe interests over families, and locking Victorians out of the nature they were promised. They didn't just break a promise, they broke faith with the public. But this won't stop us. It's only strengthened our resolve."
Victorian National Parks Association Parks and Nature Campaigner Jordan Crook said:
"Far more Victorians visit national parks than state forests. National parks don't just protect nature – they're overwhelmingly popular and provide fair, accessible and equitable access to the bush for all Victorians.
"These bizarre attacks overturn decades of Victorian policy and put us out of step with both national and international conservation approaches."
"The Allan Government needs to come clean and publicly release the Eminent Persons Panel report on the Central Highlands that is now nine months overdue so all Victorians can see what they are doing, instead of drip feeding information to special interest groups."
