Forest grazing protest 'won't affect Govt relations'
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The president of the Barmah Forest Cattlemen's Association says he is not concerned relations with the Victorian Government have soured after protest action this week.
Thirty-six cattle were let loose by protesters in the forest north of Shepparton on Monday, in response to a decision to ban grazing this summer.
They fear it will increase the risk of fire in the area.
But the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) says the forest is already struggling from the drought and could not cope with cattle.
The association's Kelvin Trickey says he doubts the protesters' actions will affect their ongoing negotiations with the DSE.
"They want to keep on speaking terms with us, so I don't think the department's that narrow minded that they'd take a dim view because there was cattle dumped there, I don't think they'll take any animosity towards the cattlemen at all," he said.
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