Latest news with #Dimopoulos
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Calls to release documents behind helicopter shooting of koalas in controversial plan dubbed 'medieval'
Three months after an Australian state authorised a plan to shoot over 1,000 koalas after a bushfire scorched their national park habitat, a fiery clash over what led to the decision has erupted. At Victoria's budget estimates late on Tuesday, the state government was grilled for seven minutes about the lethal program carried out at Budj Bim National Park. It was repeatedly asked when it would publicly release documents that led to the world-first decision to kill the marsupials using shooters in helicopters. John Bradley, the secretary of the Environment Department (DEECA), justified the aerial shooting plan, saying a veterinary expert plan that was peer reviewed judged it to be the most 'humane' response following a "rigorous process". But the Deputy Chair, the Liberal's Nick McGowan hit back, quipping that if being shot from a helicopter was doing the koalas a 'favour' then he wouldn't want any favours from the department. 'To be frank with you, it does sound like gobbledygook. And what's more, it sounds medieval,' McGowan said of DEECA's explanation of the so-called cull. 'How anyone with a shotgun from a helicopter can make these kinds of split-second assessments in killing and culling koalas seems to me somewhat barbaric.' Related: Fear for joeys as Australia guns down hundreds of koalas from helicopters During the session, Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos explained that only 13 per cent of Budj Bim was accessible on foot due to the topography and the risk of falling trees. At this point McGowan chided him, saying, 'It's not Mount Everest we're talking about here.' Due to the extraordinary circumstances following the bushfire, Dimopoulos maintained it was better to complete health checks from helicopters than on the ground. 'The people who briefed me in the department over multiple meetings… [said] you could get a better view of a koala from a helicopter because they're at the top of the tree, than you could at the bottom of the undulating ground looking up at the tree canopy,' Dimopoulos said. 'So it was actually all done in the interest of actually assessing the koala better. And while it sounds interesting, the helicopter was flying very, very low to the canopy, and that way it was more effective.' During regular health assessments of koalas at Budj Bim, it's normal practice to bring them to the ground, according to a source who has worked on the program. But this year, DEECA took expert advice following the extraordinary situation which made access to the park difficult to stop koalas from suffering. Of the 2,219 koalas assessed, 1,091 were examined from the ground and 1,128 from the air. In total 1,061 (48 per cent) were euthanised. Of those shot from helicopters, the bodies of 14 were recovered. And during the operation, one was taken into care for treatment. Australia blasted for 'sniper shooting' hundreds of koalas Devastating photos captured after Australia gunned down koalas from helicopters Sad truth behind koala that was rescued from Aussie national park According to Bradley, an assessment of the "euthanasia" operation found DEECA "had been successful in humanely euthanising fire-impacted koalas in areas of the park that were not safely or readily accessible by foot and that would otherwise have been left to suffer unnecessarily." In ordinary circumstances, scientists usually release peer-reviewed research. But the killing of koalas at Budj Bim was conducted without public scrutiny until Yahoo News was given a tip-off and began asking questions of DEECA. Several wildlife agencies were aware of the program, but later said they were unaware of its scale. As the operation continued, DEECA responded to questions from Yahoo about how many koalas were being euthanised and what methods were being used with open, frank and detailed answers. But now politicians and critics of the program face a new challenge. Three months after the operation began, the government has dodged requests to publicly release documents relating to why it was necessary to shoot the koalas from helicopters in the first place. Another pressing argument for them to do so is that the Victorian state government claims the operation was a success. Because of this, many wildlife advocates are concerned DEECA could authorise aerial culling of wildlife again – something they oppose. During budget estimates, the government was asked on three occasions when the full veterinary reports and operational data from that aerial koala cull would be released for independent scrutiny. It did not commit to doing so during the session. Described as "euthanasia" by DEECA, and a "cull" by some ecologists and critics, the operation lasted from March 14 to April 25, and eventual publicity sparked fierce debate, making international headlines. While koalas are federally listed as endangered in Queensland, ACT and NSW, the populations in Victoria and South Australia are considered abundant. During budget estimates, Dimopoulos described Victoria's population as "healthy" but said there was "over-population" in locations including Budj Bim, which caused a "problem" for koalas as they were already "stressed". According to experts with knowledge of the region and koalas, the problem has been caused by the logging of eucalypt plantations that surround the national park. When trees are cut down, koalas that live in them have nowhere to go except for Budj Bim. After the government "euthanised" the 1,061 koalas, wildlife advocates called for it to halt timber harvesting in the surrounding area. It is yet to commit to doing so. More than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for an inquiry into the bluegum industry and its impact on koalas. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Time Out
26-05-2025
- Time Out
Melbourne's Luna Park is getting a much-needed multi-million dollar facelift
The huge moon face on St Kilda Esplanade, aka the entrance to the beloved Luna Park, is one of Melbourne's most iconic sights. It's been there since 1912, making the theme park the oldest in the country – so it makes sense that it's in need of some TLC. Thankfully, the century-old site is set to get a glow-up with a $22 million upgrade. The restoration works will target the Luna Palace, a building inside the park that's been there from the beginning. Once upon a time, it hosted the Dodgem cars and the Penny Arcade. But after falling into disrepair, it was closed to the public for safety reasons. Fortunately, the park is now undergoing heritage repairs to bring it back to life so that it can be enjoyed by visitors once again. The palace will even get an expansion, creating the capacity to host exciting events. Luna Park's entrance towers will also benefit from a makeover to revitalise the facade, with a fresh coat of paint and revamped lighting. The restoration works are already underway, with the park able to stay open throughout. The revamped Luna Palace is expected to be ready to open in November 2025. To recognise the value of this heritage attraction, the state government has contributed $5 million in funding through the latest budget. Victorian minister for environment Steve Dimopoulos said Luna Park was an important part of Melbourne's history. 'With the help of this funding it can not only return to its former glory but grow and thrill new generations,'' Dimopoulos said. 'We are so lucky to have places like this in Melbourne, which are nationally and internationally significant and we are proud to make sure it continues to be a family favourite for locals and international visitors to our great state.' To find out more about the Luna Park restoration works, head to the website.
Herald Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
Australian GP upgrade for Albert Park track
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Sunday Herald Sun can today reveal the new look of the pit building, which will be the heart of the upgrade. The design includes 14 new garages, a new VIP hospitality section, a state-of-the-art race control centre and media room. The building will also be home to seven indoor sports courts, along with new clubrooms for local clubs to use year-round. Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulosis is expected to unveil the new design on Sunday but has declined to confirm the $350m price tag, citing commercial in-confidence. 'Fans flock to Victoria from around the world for our Formula 1 grand prix – filling local hotels, restaurants, pubs and businesses – and we intend to keep it that way,' he said. 'This massive upgrade is a win for the local community – more space for community sport, more courts, better change rooms and park upgrades and a sporting venue Albert Park locals can enjoy.' The new pit building will open for the 2028 Australia Grand Prix race with the current building set to be demolished after the 2026 race. A temporary structure will be built to host the 2027 event, but it was not yet clear what that would include. It's understood the new building was part of long-term contracts with the grand prix operator and Mr Dimopoulos said the upgrade was warranted given the last Formula 1 event in 2025 attracted over 465,000 fans over four days. This year's event saw record crowds, mainly attributed to homegrown hero Oscar Piastri competing. But he was left gutted in the dramatic ending to his Australian Grand Prix, dropping out of contention as McLaren star Lando Norris claimed victory ahead of Max Verstappen. The race is considered also one of the most economically productive events for the city, with central Melbourne hotels reaching 94 per cent occupancy the night before. The weekend injects more than $3.3bn annually into the Victorian economy, contributing to a total $40bn in visitor spending in 2024. The race has been locked in for Melbourne until 2037. Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Travis Auld said the new building was a big step forward for the event. 'In addition to playing a critical role in delivering a world-class event, this exciting new chapter will ensure this facility becomes an asset for the community to enjoy outside of the race period for years to come,' Mr Auld said. Albert Park MP Nina Taylor said the facility would also provide top-notch options for locals to use. 'This project will make the iconic Albert Park precinct even better for locals with upgraded world-class sport facilities complementing the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre down the road,' she said. Chilling girlfriend threats before Aussie axed
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Empty campground photos expose worsening problem in Australia: 'Not a soul here'
Having a campground all to yourself may be a dream for many but recent photos of a popular location with "not a soul" there reveal a crippling problem impacting Aussies and their chance to explore the bush. A camper headed to the Jamieson Creek Campground along the Great Ocean Road on Friday but was shocked to find it empty, despite claiming it was fully booked on the Parks Victoria online booking system. It's the latest example of the ongoing ghost camping trend rocking the camping world, with the introduction of booking systems at campgrounds resulting in some choosing to book sites, only to not show up. This ghost camping leaves campgrounds empty while simultaneously blocking prospective campers from attending. The behaviour has been exacerbated in Victoria this year after the state announced free camping across all state campgrounds without enforcing a formal policy tackling ghost camping. The free camping initiative is due to end in June. Despite ghost camping continuing to be an issue at state-run campgrounds in Victoria, Parks Victoria continues to rely on campers doing the right thing rather than enforcing a formal policy. When Yahoo News questioned this stance, Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos responded by saying "Victorians want to do the right thing". "The Liberal Party thinks Victorians wake up in the morning to abuse the system — I don't buy that, Victorians want to do the right thing," he said, explaining Parks Victoria now sends out "two reminders to people to cancel if they can't make their booking". Yahoo News understands campers receive an email seven days out from a campsite booking and another email and text message are sent 48 hours prior, encouraging cancellation if required. "We introduced free camping to get more Victorian families out having holidays in the regions and putting money back in their pockets," Dimopoulos said. "We want more Victorians to explore the great outdoors on Easter weekend, in addition to the 131 bookable campgrounds, Victorians can also stay at one of the 1,000 free camping areas that are first-come-first-served across the state." Mike Atkinson, also known as Outback Mike, is an Aussie adventurer and avid camper who has been vocal in his concern about having booking systems at campgrounds. National Parks introduced them during the Covid pandemic to enforce social distancing, however, authorities have grappled with ghost bookings ever since. "There's three different states all trying to attack it in three different ways, and neither state is working. And that's because the problem is the booking system," he told Yahoo News. Queensland have opted for the strictest approach and announced they will be issuing fines to campers caught guilty of ghost camping, while in NSW it was announced just last week authorities may introduce a new state-wide camping fee system based on amenities available at the campground. The upfront cost to book a campground is intended to deter those from ghost camping, however Mike said making campground prices "astronomical" is furthering the "divide between the rich and poor". "By raising fees, they have just blocked out probably the poorest people in Australia from accessing national parks. It's the one thing they should have access to," he said. He claims holding onto booking systems is instead about making "heaps of money" and is unsure why Victoria would continue to "bury its head in the sand" over the issue, especially since the state currently provides free camping. Mike has one simple solution to tackle ghost camping — "ditch the booking system". "If they got rid of the booking system, it would just be on a first come, first serve basis, the way it was before Covid... It wasn't an enormous problem then. No one was crying out before the booking system was introduced," he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
