Responses - in order received.
Australian Country Alliance.
1. We support prospecting as it has pretty much the same characteristics of all other good sensible land uses such as camping, fishing etc. So yes. We’d also abolish VEAC.
2. Yes. We would take on advice from the very voluntary groups that exist for a good reason rather than rely on bureaucrats who think they know what is good for us. Vote for us, and watch VEAC disappear….
3. We do not support new parks (including the Great Forest National Park) and do support expanding activities that can occur in the existing ones. Those activities include prospecting.
4. I have to admit I don’t know much about this subject matter but trust it is something needed to support prospecting. If it does, then it is logical, so yes.
5. Again I am not a subject matter expert but trust is supported by those that we support – so yes.
6. Again, I’m not s subject matter expert but this sounds very logical. I would want to seek the advice of groups such as yours, so if it is something that is required, then again, yes.
7. Yes. It would need to be developed in conjunction with groups like yours and not only within government.
We asked the major parties slightly different questions. Some of these included mining matters.
We asked the parties slightly different questions - some mining related
Question 1 While the Coalition recently held an Inquiry to increase access to Parks for prospecting, the fact that the Inquiry was conducted by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council meant it was guaranteed to fail. This matter remains a priority for the PMAV and we continue to seek an acceptable result. We believe that a sensible position would be to remove the prohibition on prospecting in parks contained in the minerals legislation (MRSDA) and to allow prospecting, subject to control under the National Parks Act regulations – the same as other recreational activities. Would your party commit to making the simple legislative change to make this happen?
Question 2 Would you establish an environmental advisory board consisting of recreational, commercial and environmental interests to replace the demonstrably biased Victorian Environmental Assessment Council?
Question 3 The environmental movement is campaigning for a huge new National Park in the Central Highlands and many new parks across the Central Goldfields. If these parks are created it will mean that commercial activity, including mineral exploration and mining is prohibited, and recreational prospecting will either be prohibited or severely restricted. What is your party’s attitude to these new parks and the negative impact this would bring to the State’s economy?
Question 4 Will you support the establishment of a dedicated small-mine facilitation office in DSDBI?
Question 5 Will you support the continuation of the Office of the Mining Warden?
Question 6 Will you support adequate funding to allow for the mapping of sites of ‘aboriginal cultural heritage’ to replace the current system which designates all areas within 200 metres either side of any named waterways in the State to be of aboriginal cultural sensitivity?
Question 7 Will you establish a public education campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of a viable, productive minerals industry in Victoria?
National Party - click on the link below to see the pdf file. This response is on behalf of the Libera/National Coalition
ALP - click on the link below to see the pdf file received at 3.30pm on 27th November.