Friends of the Earth (FoE) Melbourne  is a non-for profit organisation working for a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable future. The international Friends of the Earth network is  active in 77 countries with over 2 million members. Read more.

On Sunday the 3rd of November, members of Energy Justice Victoria (EJV) made the fourth and final stop of their Fossil Frontlines Community Tour, hosted in Traralgon by local Latrobe Valley youth group A New Power.

Traralgon is one of three population centres in the Gippsland region’s Latrobe Valley, lying between the Strzelecki and Baw Baw Ranges. The Valley is a major producer of Victoria’s energy. While the industry has traditionally relied on brown coal, initiatives like the Latrobe Valley Community Power Hub and Friends of the Earth affiliate Earthworker are spearheading alternative small-scale renewable energy projects.

Goongerah Environment Centre and Friends of the Earth have today welcomed the Victorian government announcement of protection of 96,000 hectares of forests in eastern Victoria and complete and immediate protection of 90,000 hectares of old growth forest, but say more details and maps are needed to ensure the announcement results in lasting and effective protection. 

Goongerah Environment Centre and Friends of the Earth spokesperson Ed Hill said:

“It’s very welcome to see the Andrews government finally show leadership to protect native forests, especially old growth forests in East Gippsland. This is a positive first step towards better protection of East Gippsland’s forests, but questions remain over how these promises will be implemented.”  

It’s very clear from the current state of Victoria’s environment that bold action is needed by the Andrews Government to protect the places and wildlife we love – our National Parks, forests, rivers, beaches, oceans, native plants and animals.

On Thursday 28 November, the fifth anniversary of the election of the Andrews Government, environment and community groups from across Victoria will rally together to demand real action to protect Victoria's nature.

On Sunday the 27th of October, members of Energy Justice Victoria (EJV) visited Westernport Bay for the third week of the Fossil Frontlines Community Tour. EJV co-hosted a community meeting with local groups Save Westernport and Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council in the vibrant Balnarring township. 

Transforming Victoria

There is an urgent climate imperative to transform our democratic, economic, energy and food systems.

In the midst of the climate crisis, inequality is also on the rise. In September 700,000 people across Australia were out of work, and underemployment rates are on the rise.

Earlier this year, we released an initial document outlining the beginnings of a vision to #TransformVIC with a focus on Creating Jobs while Cutting Emissions.

After consulting with a broad spectrum of allies, the latest version of the Transforming Victoria report is live, and incorporates additional elements of a just transitions framework which goes beyond jobs, and begins to look to alternative models of powering and structuring our communities to be resilient to the far-reaching implications of climate impacts here in Victoria.

There is extra information available here.

On Saturday the 19th of October, Energy Justice Victoria (EJV) members embarked on the second stop of the Fossil Frontlines Community Tour, hosted in Golden Beach by local group Ninety Mile Against Carbon Storage.

Golden Beach is a seaside town on Ninety Mile Beach between Loch Sport and Seaspray (where EJV launched the Community Tour on the 11th of October). Along the foreshore camping spots back onto dune paths leading to the white sand and blue ocean, home to endangered nesting plovers and a vibrant marine life.

Get ready, this Monday ABC's Q&A program will be all about our rivers!

Featuring Federal Water Minister David Littleproud, Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon, NFF President Fiona Simon, Senior Researcher at the Australia Institute Maryanne Slattery and Kate McBride from Tolarno Station to talk all things water.

Now is our chance to put the hard questions to the politicians! Ask a question here

There is an urgent climate imperative to transform our democratic, economic, energy and food systems.

IN the midst of the climate crisis, inequality is also on the rise. In September 700,000 people across Australia were out of work, and underemployment rates are on the rise (ABS Via Trading Economics).

Earlier this year, we released an initial document outlining the beginnings of a vision to #TransformVIC with a focus on Creating Jobs while Cutting Emissions.

After consulting with a broad spectrum of allies, the latest version of the Transforming Victoria report is live, and incorporates additional elements of a just transitions framework which goes beyond jobs, and begins to look to alternative models of powering and and structuring our communities to be resilient to the far reaching implications of climate impacts here in Victoria.

We welcome continued input into the scope and content of the report and anticipate a release of a final document in February 2020.

For comment/input please contact cam.walker@foe.org.au

On Saturday the 12th of October, members of Energy Justice Victoria (EJV) launched the Fossil Frontlines Community Tour with its first stop: a visit to Seaspray hosted by Gasfield Free Seaspray.

Seaspray is a small Victorian coastal town on the southern end of beautiful Ninety Mile Beach, around 32 kilometres south of Sale. A member of the Lock the Gate Alliance, Gasfield Free Seaspray was integral to the statewide campaign from 2011 to 2017 that gained the historic fracking ban from the VIC Labor government.

The Seaspray community, with so many others across the state, fought hard to see unconventional gas drilling (fracking) banned permanently for the benefit of water quality, tourism and farming in the area. The campaign also saw a temporary moratorium placed on onshore conventional gas exploration.

This moratorium will expire and be reassessed in June 2020.

(Photo credit to Stephen Issell)