Should about 65,000 hectares of forest in central-west Victoria, including the Wombat forest, be made into national parks?
New Central West national parks
Both houses · 5 votes
Background
The bill turned mostly state forest in central-west Victoria into three new national parks — Wombat–Lerderderg, Mount Buangor and Pyrenees — and created three conservation parks, following a 2019 Victorian Environmental Assessment Council investigation. It also expanded seasonal deer stalking into parts of some national parks and made other changes to parks and public land. Activities such as prospecting are not allowed in the new national parks. A Greens amendment in the Council removed deer hunting from Mount Buangor National Park.
What each side said
Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.
For “agree”
Supporters said the parks protect habitat for rare and threatened species while still allowing walking, camping, 4WD and other recreation: "More people in more parks more often means greater protection" (Mary-Anne Thomas, ALP, 16 Oct 2025). The Greens and Animal Justice backed the parks as the best long-term protection, while opposing the extra deer hunting (Georgie Purcell, Animal Justice, 18 Nov 2025). Legalise Cannabis also voted on this side.
For “disagree”
Opponents said Parks Victoria is under-resourced — "the government cannot manage what they have already" (Cindy McLeish, Liberal, 16 Oct 2025) — and that national-park status ends prospecting and restricts firewood collection, dispersed camping and dogs in these forests. The Nationals said "Reclassification does not equal conservation" (Melina Bath, 14 Nov 2025); the Shooters and Libertarians argued public land should stay open to the public. One Nation and Moira Deeming (now Family First) also voted on this side.
How the parties voted
Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out
| Party | Record | Votes with a party position |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Greens | Consistently for | 5 of 5 |
| Labor | Consistently for | 5 of 5 |
| Legalise Cannabis | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Liberal | Consistently against | 5 of 5 |
| Libertarian | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Nationals | Consistently against | 5 of 5 |
| One Nation | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
The votes behind this question
Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.
16 October 2025 · Legislative Assembly
Parks And Public Land Legislation Amendment (Central West And Other Matters) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 54, Noes 27.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Assembly reasoned amendment moved by Cindy McLeish; the question was whether to keep the words "be now read a second time". Aye = reject the amendment (let the bill proceed); agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 51 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 19 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 8 | No |
Independents, each counted on their own: Will Fowles (Aye)
Every name (Ayes 54, Noes 27) in the vote of 16 October 2025
Ayes (54)
Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Danny Pearson, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (27)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 144 to 146 (LA-60-146-01)
16 October 2025 · Legislative Assembly
Parks And Public Land Legislation Amendment (Central West And Other Matters) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a second time and a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 54, Noes 27.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second and third reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 51 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 19 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 8 | No |
Independents, each counted on their own: Will Fowles (Aye)
Every name (Ayes 54, Noes 27) in the vote of 16 October 2025
Ayes (54)
Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Danny Pearson, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (27)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 144 to 146 (LA-60-146-02)
18 November 2025 · Legislative Council
Parks And Public Land Legislation Amendment (Central West And Other Matters) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That the reasoned amendment moved by Melina Bath be agreed to — put.
- Result
- Question negatived. Ayes 17, Noes 22.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Council reasoned amendment moved by Melina Bath to stop the bill proceeding. Aye = support the amendment (oppose the bill now); agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 0 | 1 | No |
| Greens | 0 | 4 | No |
| Labor | 0 | 15 | No |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 12 | 0 | Aye |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Every name (Ayes 17, Noes 22) in the vote of 18 November 2025
Ayes (17)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Noes (22)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 143, 144 and 145 (LC-60-143-01)
18 November 2025 · Legislative Council
Parks And Public Land Legislation Amendment (Central West And Other Matters) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That the Bill be now read a second time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 22, Noes 17.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 15 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 12 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 1 | No |
Every name (Ayes 22, Noes 17) in the vote of 18 November 2025
Ayes (22)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Noes (17)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 143, 144 and 145 (LC-60-143-02)
18 November 2025 · Legislative Council
Parks And Public Land Legislation Amendment (Central West And Other Matters) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Gayle Tierney moved, That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 22, Noes 17.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 15 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 12 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 1 | No |
Every name (Ayes 22, Noes 17) in the vote of 18 November 2025
Ayes (22)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Noes (17)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 143, 144 and 145 (LC-60-143-04)
Sources
- EM
- Second reading (Steve Dimopoulos (Minister for Environment), 2025-09-11)
- Opposition (Cindy McLeish, 2025-10-16)
- Crossbench (Ellen Sandell, GRN)
- Crossbench (Sarah Mansfield, GRN)
- News: ABC News (2025-09-14); The Wombat Post (2025-11-21); ABC News (2024-10-15)
- Full list: Sources tab (20 items).
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