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Melina Bath says Indigenous burning and broad-scale fuel reduction are vital for proactive bushfire preventionVictoria’s fire season begins amid total bans, with experts warning mismanaged forests and inadequate fuel reduction under Labor leave communities exposed to devastating megafires. By news@gippsland - 4th December 2025 - Back to News Victoria’s fire season has begun amid total fire bans across large parts of the state, as forest management expert John Mulligan launched his new book Our Mismanaged Forests. Mr Mulligan’s book brings together the insights of leading forest and fire experts, reinforcing the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission’s finding that without large-scale fuel reduction burning, megafires will continue to devastate communities and the environment. 
Melina Bath criticises Labor for ignoring expert advice, providing minimal fire mitigation, grounding equipment, weakening CFA support, and raising emergency levies, harming regional Victorians Proactive fire managementThe warning comes in stark contrast to Victoria’s current position. Under the Allan Labor government, fuel reduction burning has averaged just 1 percent over the past five years - well-short of the Royal Commission’s recommended 5 percent target. This failure has left many regional communities dangerously exposed. Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, said Indigenous cultural burning and broad-scale cool-season fuel reduction must be central to any serious bushfire prevention strategy. "Bushfires don’t wait for committees or centralised decisions - they demand constant, proactive management," Ms Bath said. Fire safety ignoredMs Bath said the Allan Labor government has repeatedly ignored expert advice, delivering some of the lowest levels of mitigation in Victoria’s highest-risk regions. "Grounded G-Wagons and UNIMOGs, weakened CFA support, and soaring emergency services levies have all contributed to regional Victorians paying the price for Labor’s mismanagement." Research shows that every dollar invested in fire mitigation returns up to $5 in avoided suppression costs. "Without an effective mitigation strategy, history will condemn this failure - and our forests and communities will bear the consequences. The Nationals will restore proper fuel reduction targets, support volunteer and career firefighters and keep Victorians safe," Ms Bath said. Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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