By BRIDGET COOK
FLINDERS MP Greg Hunt is under scrutiny for handballing the decision-making responsibility on the fate of a dedicated wildlife corridor in Casey aimed at protecting the endangered southern brown bandicoot.
Mr Hunt, who is also the Federal Environment Minister, handed over his decision-making powers on the future of two Victorian wildlife corridors, citing his position as the sitting member for Flinders as a ’conflict of interest’.
The Casey corridor, set out in the State Government’s strategy to protect the southern brown bandicoot in 2011, aimed to connect the species habitat in the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens with other habitats in Kooweerup.
Without corridors, there are fears that connectivity between crucial bandicoot populations will be severed by a barrier of urban sprawl ‐ putting the species at serious risk.
Last month, the State Government revealed plans to drop two wildlife corridors including the Cranbourne one, to make way for the urban sprawl.
Last week, a petition with more than 1500 signatures was presented to Mr Hunt calling on him to reject the Victorian Government plan to remove the habitat corridors for urban development.
Victorian National Parks Association habitat campaigner Yasmin Kelsall urged Mr Hunt to stand strong on this issue.
“The electorate of Flinders is a hotspot for southern brown bandicoots and one of the few places they are found on the urban fringe,” she said.
“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get planning for them right.”
“It is disappointing to watch a local sitting MP, who is also the federal environment minister, failing to stand up for a local issue.”
Petition organiser Sarah Maclagan, a PhD student researching the southern brown bandicoots, said the loss of the habitat corridors could see local extinction of the bandicoots.
“New developments planned around the Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne will strand nearby southern brown bandicoots in a sea of housing, cutting them off from other bandicoot populations at Kooweerup swamp and along Western Port Bay’s north western shoreline,” she said.
“The bandicoots will end up hemmed in by housing and no longer able to mix with their neighbours.”
Mr Hunt said that as the local member he had been discussing this issue with various groups for years.
“Due to this history, I sought advice from the Department of Environment, which has advised that the parliamentary secretary should make the decision,” he said.
Mr Hunt said the parliamentary secretary has written to the State Government confirming that the Australian Government considers clear commitments to connectivity are required so that the bandicoot was appropriately protected.
“Protection of Australia’s threatened species is something I take seriously, and very personally,” he said.
“We are facing a crisis in Australia, with an ever-increasing number of native plants and animals faced with extinction.
“That is why I have announced that I will appoint a Threatened Species Commissioner.”
