In response to calls from the Animal Justice Party’s upper house MP, Georgie Purcell, for the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to halt the burns, Ms Cleeland argued that doing so would result in a dangerous build-up of fuel loads.
However, Ms Purcell said if Ms Cleeland had spoken to her prior to contacting the media she would have found their positions were not too dissimilar.
Ms Cleeland had highlighted the Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommendation into increased prescribed burning throughout the north-east of the state, which she said was at risk due to delays such as those proposed by Ms Purcell.
Ms Cleeland criticised the Animal Justice Party’s policies as short-sighted, arguing that fuel load reduction was essential to protect lives, livelihoods and the wildlife that lived in state forests.
“There’s a significant difference between sensible and sustainable fuel reduction and a mega fire sweeping through Strathbogie State Forest,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The window each year for prescribed burns is becoming smaller and smaller.
“Supporting a delay or halt is dangerous. We can’t afford to let fuel loads build up and compound year after year.
“There is no escaping our changing climate, and our sustainability practices must be adaptive to these circumstances.
“Fuel reduction must be undertaken regularly given increasingly variable climate conditions.”
Ms Cleeland said there were ways to continue improving the management of native forests.
“The Nationals took a comprehensive forest management policy to the 2022 Victorian election,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The Nationals’ policy supported the introduction and state-wide roll-out of Indigenous-prescribed burns, known as firestick.
“Indigenous Victorians have managed the landscape for thousands of years, and employing their techniques to manage the natural environment would lead to cooler burns, having a much smaller impact on native flora and fauna.”
Ms Cleeland called on the Animal Justice Party to support planned burns to protect wildlife and reduce the risk of megafires that could have an irreparable impact on the region.
Ms Purcell, however, said she had no opposition to planned burns in general.
“I understand the importance they have in terms of reducing fuel loads to protect property and life,” Ms Purcell said.
“All we’re asking for is the critical habitat for the southern greater glider, which were recently listed as endangered, to not be burned, and for another part of the Strathbogie forest to have the planned burn instead.
“So we can have the same result but also protect a critically endangered native animal.
“I think it’s also important to note that I met with DEECA this week and we are trying to work collaboratively with them so they can undertake this very important task.”
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