Today marks one year since Victoria’s first Code Red day in nearly a decade, when lightning strikes ignited the bushfires that ravaged East Gippsland and North East Victoria and heralded the start of a devastating fire season.

The hard work and dedication of those who enhance and protect Victoria’s precious coastal and marine environments has been celebrated at the inaugural Victorian Marine and Coastal Awards.

A new innovation centre is bringing together businesses, industry groups, research institutions and not-for-profit organisations to create solutions to reduce waste, increase recycling and reuse, and generate new revenue for Victorian businesses.

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Gippsland after a devastating year of bushfires and coronavirus with a budget boost that will bring more visitors to Victoria’s east to spend money and support local businesses.

The Andrews Labor Government is protecting Victoria’s beautiful natural environment and ensuring more people can enjoy it, with major investments in our much-loved parks and Zoos, and funding to protect biodiversity across the state.

Spending more time at home this year has meant bigger power bills for many households. To reduce this burden, the Andrews Labor Government will invest $797 million to help Victorians cover the cost of their power bills and make homes more energy efficient.

The upcoming Victorian Budget 2020/21 will deliver $84 million to transform Werribee Zoo into Australia’s leading open range zoo – including building a new home for the city’s much-loved Asian elephant herd, currently housed at Melbourne Zoo.