Friends of the Earth (FoE) Melbourne  is a non-for profit organisation working for a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable future. The international Friends of the Earth network is  active in 77 countries with over 2 million members. Read more.

To mark National Threatened Species day, Friends of the Earth Melbourne has released a report documenting 27 unlawful native forest logging operations in protected threatened species habitat and rainforest. 

These logging operations have occurred under the Andrews Labor government.

The Lawless logging report has been prepared by FoE in partnership with forest survey groups Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) and Fauna and Flora Research Collective (FFRC).

Read the report here.

MEDIA RELEASE - 5 Sept 2017

Friends of the Earth welcome the Australian Energy Market Operator's Electricity Statement of Opportunities, and say the analysis shows the Victorian Renewable Energy Target will secure the state's energy future.

“Premier Daniel Andrews is securing Victoria's energy supply in the face of federal inaction by investing in renewable energy,” said Pat Simons, Freinds of the Earth spokesperson.

"The Andrews government has made the right call with it's decision to set renewable energy targets."

"The AEMO analysis shows the electricity sector is gearing up for greater use of wind and solar."

On 7 September 1996, Threatened Species Day was declared to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the death of the last remaining Tasmanian tiger at Hobart Zoo in 1936.

To commemorate the day this year, the Victorian government "encourage[s] the community to prevent further extinctions of Australia's fauna and flora, and to restore healthy numbers of endangered species and ecological communities in the wild". 

The Foe Forest Collective is well up for this invitation and thinks that a good start would be for the Victorian government to stop logging protected forest communities and their threatened and endangered wildlife! And to end the logging industry's exemption from federal environment laws that protect threatened species!

On Threatened Species Day we'll deliver our message right across Melbourne in a massive day of action. Do you want to join in?

Have you signed up for for Walk This Way yet? You can RIGHT NOW at walkthisway.org.au and start collecting sponsors for this amazing event coming up in just over a month!

The 30th of August marks a very special occasion for Victorians: the first anniversary of our state-wide ban on Fracking and unconventional gas.



On this day last year the Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews announced a permanent ban on Hydraulic fracking and CSG gas drilling in Victoria. This is the first permanent ban on fracking in the country, and effectively stopped the invasive unconventional gas industry in Victoria in its tracks.

The Greater Glider is Australia’s largest gliding marsupial. Once common, Greater Gliders have declined by 80% in the last two decades.  

Logging operations have wiped out large areas of its habitat and it's the latest Victorian animal to become a threatened species.

Government scientists advised Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio to issue a conservation order to protect the Greater Glider. Unfortunately, Victoria’s Environment Department has urged the Environment Minister not to follow this advice.

Greater Gliders continue to be killed and their habitat destroyed by logging.

The latest areas up for destruction are “Glenview” coupe (298 516 0001) in the upper headwaters of the Kalatha Creek in and "Guitar Solo" coupe (307-505-0011), both in Toolangi state forest.

Please, let the Minister know you expect the Greater Gliders in these coupes to be immediately protected from logging.

Send your email below and follow up by calling her office on (03) 9637 9504

The Victorian government has announced that it will aim to legislate the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET).

This measure has been widely welcomed by the environment movement, businesses and the broader community.

The hostile reaction by the Victorian Coalition highlights the negative attitude of the Opposition towards policy action on energy and climate change. They have been 'road testing' anti renewables messages in recent weeks. The following is our response.

MEDIA RELEASE - 23 August 2017

"A vital stepping stone towards 10,000 jobs"

The Andrews government have this morning announced the first big solar farms in the state as well as auctions to bring 650 megawatts of new projects online to kick off the legislative push on the Victorian Renewable Energy Target. 

Friends of the Earth welcome the announcement and say it’s a vital stepping stone for the Andrews government towards its commitment to deliver 5,400 megawatts of solar and wind by 2025--taking Victoria to 40 percent renewables.

Join us on Threatened Species Day to call on the Victorian parliament to protect our threatened wildlife from logging.

Thursday September 7, 5.30pm – 8.30pm.

Parliament House, Melbourne.