video Kelvin Thomson again speaks out against more population growth in Victoria and to protect the bush from incursions, which will only cause more bushfire problems. After this, Gavin Jennings, Victoria's very disappointing the Minster for the Environment, urges more trees to be cut down as usual. (See inside for another link to the same video.)

"Everything that makes our city the great place to live, work and raise a family, is potentially under threat if population growth and urban sprawl continue at the current rate. We must implement a strategy to control population growth, urban expansion and development. Our way of life, open spaces and infrastructure cannot be sacrificed on the altar of ever expanding population. We have a responsibility to secure our city’s future through thorough, thoughtful and detailed planning. This planning should not include an expanding Melbourne waistline." (Kelvin Thomson MP, Federal Member for Wills, "Five Million is too many: Securing the Social and Environmental Future of Melbourne: Submission to the Urban Growth Boundary Review, July 2009)

What do children, bandicoots, Melbourne's Green Wedges and the Garden of Eden have in common? This poignant submission to a developer-dominated government about a children and bandicoots' garden goes right back to the garden of Eden, retold again and again, this time in Uno's garden and a garden with 'protected' bandicoots near Clyde, Victoria, on the edge of the Green Wedge.

You tube video inside of Michael Hocking's speech about the GAIC tax which Planning Minister Madden wants to inflict on the people who live in the Green Wedges which he wants to rezone for urban development.

Shortly after his lunch with the "Progressive Business Association" must have ended, Mr Madden, who apparently departed shyly out the back door, looked surprised to be intercepted and presented with the resolutions of the Bastille Day Rally against Urban Expansion and Rotten taxes by Julianne Bell, Rosemary West and Jill Quirk, acting on behalf of the environment and democracy.
See also: Unnatural Growth and Rotten Taxes and Animal Apocalypse

Multi NGO including Wildlife groups Melbourne Bastille Day rally to protest land speculation, green wedges destruction, and taxation without representation, including the proposed $95,000 ha rezoning tax; the privileged hearings granted to paid up members of the ALP-linked Progressive Business lobby, whereas taxpayers pay far more for no representation at all."We would be very glad if you can send us a message on behalf of your organisation in support of the rally (contact details end of article). This will help prove that your organisation is not city-centric or has "NIMBY" tendencies." (Oh those dreaded NIMBY stand up for yourself SUFI - ca suffit - tendencies!)

The public are finding democratic ways to combat the devastation of all they hold dear and threats to life itself, as Victoria's government closes its eyes and steps as hard on the growth-accelerator as it can. You may already know about the requisitioning of 50,000 ha for residential development and new roads and the government's intention to simply take away our green wedges and get rid of our wildlife and trees. Yes our democracy is being trampled along with everything else, but we have not entirely lost people power.