In March news, Victorian Bush Fire Inquiry submissions, wild fire costs survey, next Wombat forest worktrip, public transport justice symposium, Backcountry Film Festival, Koala Fesitval and new report, Energy Justice collective actions, email to fund climate adaptation preparedness, renewable apartments inquiry plus more!
Bushfire Inquiry – please send a submission by 19 April
Many large bushfires have burnt across the state this summer, especially those which started on 9 January. A State of Disaster was declared in the impacted areas, with more than 400,000 hectares burnt. The Victorian parliament has agreed to hold an investigation into the 2026 summer bushfires across Victoria. We believe this inquiry offers an opportunity for really important issues to be considered by parliament. The Terms of Reference are quite broad and cover many issues relevant to the immediate fire response and recovery and also broader issues like land management. We have prepared a draft submission that you could send which is available here (you can modify the content to reflect your lived experiences, views and interests). You can find the full details on the Inquiry here. You can find our full submission here. Submissions have just been extended until April 19.
In Victoria the state government has created the Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy, which is intended to contribute funds for emergency services like the SES, CFA, Triple Zero Victoria, and so on. The levy stirred controversy after many farmers faced increases of tens of thousands of dollars a year in what they pay. In response, the government introduced a two-year rate freeze to the Levy for farmers. However, we believe that while all landowners benefit from emergency services and therefore should be expected to pay a fair contribution towards the Levy, in its current form it does represent an unfair burden on rural and especially farming communities. We believe that ratepayers shouldn’t be expected to pay for the damage caused by coal, gas and oil companies. A levy would force them to contribute to the problems they are causing. In this survey we want to test community support for such a levy. We would really appreciate getting your thoughts on who should pay for the rising costs of wild fire. There is a short survey that you can fill out here.
Next worktrip in the Wombat forest 27 March
Friends of the Earth has regular field trips in the Wombat forest with representatives from the Galk-galk Dhelkunya (forest gardening) team of DJAARA. These work trips are a good chance to meet and chat with members of the team, ask questions about Djaara aspirations for the forest, and contribute some practical solidarity. The work trips happen at the test site in the Wombat Forests, managed by Djaara (just south of Daylesford, near Leonards Hill). The next one will happen on Friday March 27. Full details here.
The West Deserves the Best public transport justice symposium 28 March
Our work on Better Buses over the years has very clearly shown that transport justice is deeply intertwined with access to services, cost of living, safety, health, education, accessibility, gender justice, racial justice, climate and many other community priorities. We hope to bring together a range of diverse stakeholders to work together and tell this story, and demonstrate how better access to public transport improves outcomes across the board and elevates the wellbeing of communities. Read more & RSVP.
Read our response to the Victorian government’s Transport Sector Emissions Reduction pledge 2026-2030 here.
Energy Justice Collective action
Join our Energy Justice Collective meeting and dinner 19 March info & RSVP. You can also tell the Victorian Coalition to get off gas send an email here. Then check out the Energy Justice Collective's new Instagram page here.
Email the Treasurer for more funds for climate adaptation
80% of Victorians told the Climate Resilience Inquiry we need more funding for adaptation. But, the government seems to have decided they already allocate enough. Vic Gov released their response to the Inquiry report in early Feb 2026. The report included multiple recommendations for more funding; but the Government replied that they are already funding adaptation, and if groups want more they should ask for it in the annual state budget. This is at odds with the Inquiry’s evidence, which showed significant financing gaps. And Victorians were loud in calling them out. Read more & email the Treasurer.
Check out the recent Y2R submission to the Victorian Inquiry into Renewable Apartments here.
4th annual Strzelecki Koala Festival 4 April
Join us in Yarram in the heart of the Strzelecki Ranges for the 4th Annual Strzelecki Koala Festival, a grassroots celebration of one of Victoria’s most significant koala populations and the forests they depend on. This year, the festival will also showcase the vision for the Yarram Koala Sanctuary (a community-driven hospital and research hub focused on habitat protection, restoration, and long-term safety for Strzelecki koalas).
Read our new report on Mullungdung and Won Wron state koalas here.
The Backcountry Film Festival 2026
The backcountry film festival is a pre winter institution in Melbourne. We have been screening the festival each year since 2011. The program is put together by Winter Wildlands Alliance, and celebrates the power and spirit of humans in winter. Now in it's 21st year, the festival will screen again in Naarm / Melbourne, Tuesday evening May 5 at RMIT in the city.
The event will run from 6pm, with films starting at 6.30pm.We will have speakers from a range of backcountry groups, info and merchandise stalls, the Winter Wildlands program (2 hours of films). Program & tix.
Become a volunteer and join the Food Co-op & Cafe.
Listen back to 3CR Dirt Radio past episodes here.