By Peter Douglas
LATROBE MP Jason Wood says he’s prepared to speak out against his Liberal Party’s decision to cut the Green Army program.
Through recruiting unemployed people to conduct weed-eradication programs, the program has been enormously successful in the Dandenong Ranges since the Abbott Government introduced the initiative in 2013.
Now the Green Army is set for the scrapheap after the Expenditure Review Committee decided to abolish the signature environmental policy, which will save the federal budget more than $350 million.
However, Mr Wood has urged a re-think on the decision.
“It’ll be very sad to see this go … I’ll be sending out an SOS to see what we can do to stop this from happening,” he said.
“I’ll be speaking to Canberra on this matter; this is a great initiative that gives great support to our local Landcare groups.
“But failing that, I’ll be looking to support biological controls, as well as employment pathway programs which can help fill the void.”
Although not in agreement with the cut, Mr Wood said he could understand the need to keep the federal budget in check.
“The budget is in a bad state of affairs and we do need to get debt under control,” he said.
“This may be the time for the states to stand up and show their support.”
Mr Wood assured the ‘Mail’ all presently funded Green Army programs in the Dandenong Ranges, many of which were a 2016 election commitment, would be completed.
In relation to the region, he said he would like to see further funds directed towards biological controls that concentrate on the eradication of ivy, sycamore and onion weeds.
Initially, nationwide, the Green Army project aimed to engage about 15,000 unemployed people – aged between 17 and 24 – to work on local conservation projects.
The success of the program in the Dandenong Ranges was on display in October late last year, where groups worked on environmental management programs along the Puffing Billy corridor.
Of those who participated, one third of the volunteers moved on to employment, while others moved on to study.
