Greens biodiversity policy won't win country votes

Greens lay down laws
By PAUL SELLARS
09aug06

THE Victorian Greens have warned they will push for a ban on all alpine grazing, duck shooting and the use of 1080 poison if they gain the balance of power in the Upper House at this year's state election.

The Greens have been buoyed by the switch to proportional representation voting for the Upper House, which gives minor parties and independents a greater chance of gaining seats and, potentially, the balance of power.

In launching their biodiversity policy last week, the Greens also signalled they would push for five new national parks, including a 30,000ha park in the Strzelecki Ranges.

They also called for $325 million in incentives and "market-based" programs over four years to reward farmers for preserving native bush, an end to exemptions to native vegetation controls and an extra $200 million in weed and vermin control.

Biodiversity spokesman Louis Delacretaz said the health of Victoria's natural environment "is the worst in Australia" and that it was time to "put our house in order a bit and repair our ecosystems".

---

Nats applaud backflip
By PAUL SELLARS
09aug06

THE Victorian Nationals have welcomed a Victorian Government backflip on rules banning work experience students from handling animals.

The Department of Education and Training came under fire last year for new work experience guidelines that prevented students from handling animals on farms or at vet clinics.

But the guidelines have been revised to exempt secondary students over 15 years of age.

Nationals leader Peter Ryan described the move as "one small victory for common sense".

"I welcome the changes because it will give students a chance to gain some real hands-on experience, which is the whole purpose of the work experience program in the first place," Mr Ryan said.

"These are young adults that we are talking about and, with the proper supervision, I'm sure they can be trusted to act responsibly and gain full value from the work experience program, rather than be wrapped up in more nanny-state regulations from the Bracks Government."

The new guidelines require students to fill out a form detailing their previous history dealing with animals and require businesses hosting work experience students to undertake an induction briefing.

The ban on children under 15 years of age having contact with animals remains in place.

---