Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (17:35): My adjournment debate is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, and the action I seek is for the minister to ensure that the proposed regulations that govern recreational activities on licensed waterfrontages are redrafted so that no camping-related activities take place on Crown land waterfrontages managed by farmers without the express permission of the licensee. Yesterday afternoon the government released these regulations after the passing of the Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 last November. During that debate I raised concerns about the legislation relating to the impact on legitimate farming operations which have now proved to be accurate and well-founded. These regulations are littered with issues of great concern. Given that licensed waterfrontages are often in extremely remote rural communities, how will the regulations be enforced? With no permission requirement, individuals can camp on farmers’ licensed land without their knowledge. If a farmer finds that campers are in breach of the regulations, it will often be impossible to ensure that the culprits are ever held responsible.

The issue of biosecurity has been inadequately addressed in these regulations. Biosecurity is not only directly interfering with animals, it is also about preventing contaminated equipment, footwear and unauthorised persons from spreading disease. Our valuable livestock industry could well be jeopardised by foreign vehicles and individuals entering properties without enforcement of proper biosecurity protocols. In November I said camping would lead to human waste, due to the obvious lack of toilet facilities, and rubbish being left behind on the land. Well, how right I was. These regulations now propose that campers will be allowed to bury their faeces 50 metres from the water. Never mind the water, though, what about ending up next to a house, livestock, where children play or where animals graze?

Camp fires will predictably be allowed as long as they are not on land being cultivated or where riverbanks are being repaired. How unnerving for farmers. Ploughed land is probably safer for a camp fire than uncultivated vegetation. Farmers look after the land and carefully manage vegetation to prevent fire but could now be potentially subject to unfamiliar and inexpert campers lighting fires and failing to extinguish them properly. Perhaps most outrageous of all, the draft regulations will allow campers to stay overnight for a total of 28 consecutive days. This is effectively squatting. Farmers should not be forced into accommodating strangers who are burying their waste, lighting fires and collecting firewood for an entire month. I encourage all Victorians to provide the government with the appropriate feedback that these regulations are unacceptable and dangerous.