We know that angry voices (those opposing new national parks and environmental protection and the development of renewables and action on climate change) are often the most vocal, especially on social media. Angry voices often shut down other views because people don’t want to be personally attacked or be involved in a shouting match, so they avoid the debate entirely. This dominance of angry and anti voices can give the impression that they are the majority.

But being noisy doesn’t mean they are the majority.

Polling consistently shows that people want to see better protection for the environment and creation of new national parks (for instance, polling conducted in 2024 showed that 80% of Victorians support the creation of new national parks, while just 8% oppose them). And the vast majority of people understand that human induced climate change poses a dramatic threat to ecosystems, people and the economy. For instance, according to the State of Sustainability Report 2024, most Victorians (67%) are concerned about climate change, with 35% indicating that their concern had increased in the past twelve months. Surveys conducted by Griffith University in 2022 show that only about 2% of the survey population were climate change deniers, 5% sceptics, 16% as unconvinced about climate change, while the vast majority (77%) were firm believers in the reality of climate change.

As expected, cost-of-living measures dominated today’s state budget. Priorities included health, education, transport and housing, and ‘law and order’ issues. Climate action and environment were not headline items this year - but transport was. And transport is a climate issue.

With the budget back in surplus this year and debt forecast to drop in the next few years, Victoria is moving beyond the years of post-pandemic austerity.  The government needs to be planning to do more to protect and revitalise the environment and speed up the energy transition in the next budget - the last one before the state election.

More and more Victorians are putting solar on their rooftops thanks to the Vic Solar Homes program, making a dent in emissions and helping people cut down on electricity prices. But there is still more to do, and there is a clear need to increase access for renters.

The Greens have announced their plan to end native forest logging in Victoria. This is a plan that is in line with an urgent need for transitioning regional communities away from an industry operating at a loss to the taxpayer and a significant cost to the environment. It will see Victoria’s forests protected for climate, water and First Nations culture.