Mornington Peninsula Shire gives plants ‘human rights’
A ‘wacky’ move by a Melbourne council has prompted fears ratepayers will have to ask their grass for permission to mow.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Plants will now be treated like people in a Victorian first policy decision by the Mornington Peninsula.
The council on Tuesday agreed to take “baby steps” towards recognising the rights of nature by integrating nature rights into its planning processes, education campaigns and advocacy.
Before the decision Cr Debra Mar said the council’s existing policies, which included a climate emergency plan and a biodiversity protection plan, did not go far enough to protect the shire’s unique ecosystems.
“They aren’t working. We’re losing our tree canopy. I hear chainsaws … I look out my (Mount Martha) windows and see rooftops where once I saw trees,” Cr Mar said.
The approval was approved late on Tuesday night by six votes to three.
Cr Mar said it was too soon to talk about how much the initiative would cost.
“However, as a responsible society and council, what is the cost of not doing this?” she said.
“The future depends on what we do now … for nature and our communities.”
Not all councillors supported the move.
Cr Bissinger was worried about the legal risks the initiative would bring.
“The shire is going to be in a very precarious position where it could actually be sued by a tree,” she said.
“It’s going to be an absolute windfall for the legal profession.”
While crops and home vegie patches would be exempt Cr Mar would like to see nature rights considered when assessing permit applications to remove vegetation and managing bushland in high fire danger areas.
“I’m asking to start taking baby steps to start exploring how this can be done,” Cr Mar said.
“It’s a whole new concept and I understand it’s a bit scary.
“We would need to look at how rights of nature could be incorporated into our Bushfire Management Overlay.”
“We’ve cleared too much wildlife habitat already. Honestly, if you chose to live in a bushfire zone then you have to accept the risk that comes with that.”
The Institute of Public Affairs’, Dr Bella d’Abrera, said “Mornington (Peninsula) council has clearly lost its grip on reality by proposing to give flora the same rights as human beings”.
“Residents on the Mornington Peninsula need to be aware of the radical green agenda their Council is pushing. If they have their way you may very well need to ask your grass permission before you mow it,” she said.
“Councillors clearly believe that plants are more important than people.
“Unfortunately, wacky ideas like these that have been dreamt up in universities have real world consequences, especially when it comes to bushfire season.”
The council also passed an ambitious plan to hand clean its beaches and to begin work on an urban forest strategy.
The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (ALEA) described Rights of Nature as laws that “prohibit human activities that would interfere with the ability and rights of ecosystems and natural communities to exist and flourish”.
“Rights of Nature invites us to see ourselves as part of a living community – not as the only members of a living community,” ALEA national convener Dr Michelle Maloney said.
