In October 2025, the Victorian government released its response to the 2021 review of the Wildlife Act 1975. This was the first review of the Act since it was first enacted in 1975.
Wildlife Victoria made a submission to the review in 2021. The most significant reform recommended by both Wildlife Victoria and the independent expert advisory panel was for a new Act that would better protect and conserve wildlife. The state government’s response to the review failed to adopt this recommendation. Wildlife Victoria also called for stronger protections for wildlife, and better support for those who rescue and care for them.
The Victorian government’s response adopted two of the recommendations put forward by Wildlife Victoria – introducing greater penalties for wildlife crime, and in-principal support for the inclusion of Traditional Owners.
The facts
- The Wildlife Act is the primary legislation in place for protecting our wildlife and does not reflect contemporary scientific understanding of wildlife management as it was enacted over 50 years ago
- In 2021, the Expert Panel explicitly noted that native fauna and biodiversity are under pressure, and decline is likely to continue as “pressures from population growth, human activity and climate change persist”
- In 2021, Wildlife Victoria responded to 80,000 requests for wildlife help and attended to 50,000 wildlife cases. In 2024, we handled 160,000 requests for help and cared for nearly 98,000 wildlife across more than 450 species. This rapid growth underscores that minor adjustments to the Wildlife Act are no longer sufficient
Key actions
October 2025 – Wildlife Victoria responds to the government’s review of the Wildlife Act
Wildlife Victoria welcomed the government’s commitments to stronger penalties for wildlife crime, and a more risk-based approach to species management but emphasised that the government’s response lacks the detail needed to show whether these commitments will be meaningful. We have since advocated for detailed implementation with clear timelines and specificity around how the government intends to deliver on the commitments outlined in their response.
December 2021 – Expert advisory panel publishes final report
The Expert Advisory Panel’s recommendations strongly reflected the substance and intent of Wildlife Victoria’s 2021 submission.
June 2021 – Wildlife Victoria makes submission to the Wildlife Act review
Wildlife Victoria’s submission included 32 recommendations across 11 key themes that outlined critical reforms needed to safeguard wildlife across the state, including the recommendation for a new Wildlife Act.
- Read Wildlife Victoria’s submission to the Wildlife Act Review
- Read Wildlife Victoria’s summary of the Review