Brumby tells forest protesters to round up cattle
Posted
Updated
Victorian Premier John Brumby is urging graziers to remove their cattle from the Barmah state forest.
Three dozen cattle were today let loose in the forest, north of Shepparton, by protesters.
They are angry with the Department of Sustainability and Environment's (DSE) decision to ban cattle grazing in the forest this summer because of the drought.
Protesters say the fuel loads in the forest are a big fire risk, that will threaten properties and the town.
But Mr Brumby says the DSE's decision was based on science and is in the best interest of the area.
"I hope the graziers will make the right decision and withdraw their cattle from the area because it's the right thing, given all of the climatic and rainfall conditions that we've had," he said.
"You just can't have the cattle in there because they'll do irreparable damage to the native vegetation that's there."
Search for news
ABC News Online takes a look at the big stories from 2008.
