Labor has refused a request by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, to have an inquiry into what is causing the inexcusable delays to repairing important tourism infrastructure damaged in the East Gippsland bushfires over four years ago.

Mr Bull moved a motion by leave in Parliament for the Inquiry to be established, but it was not supported by Labor.

“I suggest the reason they refused to allow this to proceed, is it would have been quite embarrassing for the Government, showing a combination of bureaucratic failures and general lack of desire to get on with the job,” he said.

“Parks Victoria advised last year that delays related to cultural heritage approvals, so we need to get to the bottom of it, as more than four years before rebuilds are commenced is not acceptable to anyone. None of these are new projects, they are all rebuilds.

“Protection of cultural heritage is important, and if that is the reason, we need to have timely outcomes for the appropriate measures and actions to be put in place. If there are other delays, we need to get to the bottom of it.

“Clearly Parks management does not operate with the level of proactiveness that is required to expedite outcomes in areas of hold up.

“Take the East Cape Board Walk at Cape Conran for example. I have been given four completion dates, including a clear commitment it would be completed pre-Christmas.

“In November that changed to early in the New Year. We are now in March, and it is still not open.

“Labor could not run a bath. They cannot management money or projects and then refuse an inquiry that would provide the community with some answers,” said Mr Bull.

Caption: State Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, was denied for the establishment of an Inquiry into the inexcusable bushfire infrastructure rebuild delays in our region such as the (pictured) Cape Coran Cabins in the far east.

Tuesday, 12 March 2024