Sixty Victorian grassroots community organisations and ENGO's have written to Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Tim Pallas to urge them to abolish state-owned logging business VicForests.
Within the letter the groups state that "VicForests has systematically breached the public's trust and abjectly failed Victorians on every measure — economically, socially and environmentally".
The letter calls on the government to partner with traditional owners, environmental organisations, scientists and the broader community when planning the management of Victoria's native forests.
The Victorian government reclassified VicForests from a state business corporation to a "reorganising body" on September 5, which removed the requirement for it to turn a commercial profit. Logging has ceased in the East of the state, however logging continues in the West.
It's time to abolish VicForests and empower First Nations communities as the rightful custodians of the land. There is no place for VicForests in our community and they cannot be trusted to manage the forest estate any longer.
You can read the ABC Article here.
You can read the full letter below 👇