Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) (14:48): (1119) My question is for the Minister for Environment. Minister, when will felling for public firewood collection resume across Ripon and our regions? I have had many concerned constituents contact me about how Forest Fire Management Victoria has not felled enough trees for seasonal public firewood collection this year. Many families within my electorate rely on firewood collection from designated state forest areas to heat their homes. Usually they can collect firewood during the autumn and spring months, but there have been huge shortages this year. I understand that this is in part due to ongoing industrial action by Australian Workers’ Union members in FFMV who want to pay parity with their Parks Victoria counterparts. I back FFMV workers in their fight for fairer wages and conditions and thank the mighty AWU for their support of workers. Many locals are keen to see this issue put to bed so they can begin collecting much-needed firewood again. I look forward to providing them with the minister’s response