Press Releases
Editor
06.01.10 5:00 am
Greens Tasmania HERE
Greens Australia HERE
Green MPs Campaign Updates
Tasmanian Liberals HERE
Tasmanian Liberals, Will Hodgman, HERE
Tasmanian Labor, David Bartlett HERE
Government Media Releases, HERE
Federal Labor HERE
Federal Liberal HERE
Australian Democrats HERE
Tasmanian Liberals, Matt Stevenson
Tasmanian Liberals, Elise Archer
Tasmanian Liberals, Matthew Groom
Ethics and Sustainability Party
Solving our forest conflict needs a new politics
Our Common Ground
13.03.10 4:30 pm
At a community forum in Burnie today, participants heard that solving Tasmania’s forest conflict required new, reality-based thinking from Tasmania’s major political parties.
The forum was chaired by local MLC and President of the Legislative Council Sue Smith MLC and was organised by the our common ground coalition.
Forum speaker Russell Warman, an analyst and industry liaison officer with Environment Tasmania said that “With our plantation estate, Tasmania now has real opportunities to better protect our native forests and have a truly long term sustainable timber industry.”
Another speaker, Vica Bayley of the Wilderness Society said that “Global markets are rejecting Tasmania’s native-forest products, presenting a unique opportunity resolve the conflict over forestry in Tasmania”.
“To achieve this, we need old style policies and political thinking to be replaced with an acceptance of market realities and a will to enact change.”
Specialty timber worker and craftsman Paul Noordanus told the crowd that the specialty timber industry can survive without woodchipping but only if a widespread restructure occurs.
“We need native forests to produce the specialty timbers Tasmania is famous for, not woodchips. Our oldgrowth forests should be protected and the woodchip industry should focus on plantations,” said Mr Noordanus.
Local issues and the benefits of a Tarkine National Park were addressed by Tarkine National Coalition campaigner Scott Jordan.
“Protecting the Tarkine in a secure national park would help to grow jobs, boost the profile of the entire north-west region and attract visitors to our area. Increased tourism is just one area where a resolution to the conflict over forestry would benefit all Tasmanians,” concluded Mr Jordan.
PoliticsCundall, Booth, Walsh, Bayley Dockray at water forum
Lisa Searle
12.03.10 4:26 pm
What: Open Air Water Forum
When: Sunday 14th March, 1:00 pm.
Where: Civic Square, Launceston
An Open Air water Forum will be held in Launceston this Sunday, to highlight the serious concerns that many Tasmanians have about the quality of our water.
Speakers include:
Peter Cundall - Anti-corruption campaigner;
Todd Walsh World authority on the giant freshwater crayfish;
Kim Booth Tasmanian Greens MP for Bass;
Vica Bayley Campaign Director for the Wilderness Society Tasmania; Jeremy Ball - Greens alderman for LCC;
Margy Dockray - Local community advocate for Clean Water and legislative reform.
Clean water is Tasmanias most precious resource. Now there is evidence it is becoming polluted by a combination ofgenetically enhanced leaves and a cocktail of toxic pesticides. Our endangered wild animals have already given us the warning; it is our children and those yet to be born who will suffer the most, said Mr. Cundall.
There is a real danger that Tasmanians will re-elect Parliamentarians who believe that the profits of major corporations and the forest industries are more important than the health of people in Tasmania.
Dr Lisa Searle, one of the organisers of the forum, said, we are very concerned about the expansion of monoculture plantations and widespread use of pesticides in our water catchments.
There is now evidence to suggest that these practices could have harmful effects on long-term human health and our environment, and we are encouraging further investigation into these issues in the form of independent assessment.
Tough ad asks Tasmanians to reject failed thinking
Our Common Ground
12.03.10 3:56 pm
Tough-hitting ad asks Tasmanians to reject failed thinking
Our Common Ground today released hard-hitting television and radio ads that highlight the failings of old-style politicians.
The ads ask voters why they’d support politicians and candidates who clearly do not listen to them. They also list the failures that flow from Tasmanian politicians’ stubborn refusal to change. The ads, which will run immediately, can be seen and heard on http://www.ourcommonground.org.au
“It’s hard to look at Tasmania’s timber industry and think things are working,” said Dr Andrew Lohrey, a former Labor Forest Minister who also authorised the advert. “Jobs are vanishing, we’re losing native forests, companies can’t get financing and we are losing markets.”
“The fact is our competitors are changing but we’re not. And the reason is because old-style politicians are not listening to Tasmanians—who are desperate to move on from old fights,” added Peter Skillern of Our Common Ground and who is the former state director of the Liberal Party. “Why vote for candidates who do not believe jobs and forests can co-exist?”
“Old-style parties talk about change but their old-style forest policies will produce more of the same — industry in decline, jobs lost, and shrinking markets. But Tasmanians want change because they’re tired of losing jobs and losing native forests,” concluded Mr Skillern.
Our Common Ground is a coalition of community and business leaders, environment groups and timber workers who are committed to finding a solution to Tasmania’s forestry conflict.
PoliticsOur Common Ground community forum
Vica Bayley, Wilderness Society
12.03.10 3:54 pm
MEDIA ALERT – 12 March 2010
Our Common Ground community forum
Our Common Ground will host a community forum in Burnie this Saturday to explore how Tasmania can resolve the long running conflict over forestry in Tasmania.
The event will also feature the premier screening of the mini documentary The Tarkine- Saving the last of Gondwana, written and produced by film maker Brent Melton.
“With global markets increasingly saying no to native-forest timber, Tasmania has its best chance in decades to deal with this crisis and resolve the conflict over forestry in Tasmania,” said Vica Bayley of the Wilderness Society.
When: 12 noon Saturday 13 March
Where: Braddon Hall, Burnie Civic Centre
Chair: Sue Smith, local MLC and Legislative Council President
Speakers: Paul Noordanus—woodworker and craftsman
Russell Warman—timber industry liaison officer, Environment Tas
Scott Jordan—Tarkine National Coalition
Vica Bayley—the Wilderness Society
Our Common Ground is a coalition of community and business leaders, environment groups and timber workers who are committed to finding a solution to Tasmania’s forestry conflict. The Wilderness Society is a founding member of Our Common Ground.
Vica Bayley
Tasmanian Campaign Director
The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
130 Davey St, Hobart TAS 7000
Website: http://www.wilderness.org.au
What's OnLIVING STATUES DRAW ATTENTION TO STATE WATER ISSUES
WAG
12.03.10 10:10 am
Where: Brisbane Street Mall, Launceston
When: Thursday March 11, 2 pm 5 pm
Who: Launceston Wilderness Action Group
LIVING STATUES DRAW ATTENTION TO STATE WATER ISSUES
Members of Launcestons Wilderness Action Group will today create an art-activist event in the Brisbane Street Mall to draw attention to the critical water issues currently facing all Tasmanians. The group of statues, painted green, represent different people within Tasmanian society.
We created this event to highlight the fact that all of us are affected by the water issues currently facing Tasmania. We have a housewife/mother, a farmer, a schoolgirl, a businessman, an artist, and a forestry worker, said group spokesperson Dr Lisa Searle.
We are very concerned about the widespread use of pesticides in aerial spraying of plantations, as well as about the extensive practice of large monoculture plantations in Tasmania and the possible impacts of this. There is now evidence to suggest that these practices have harmful effects on long-term human health and our environment, and we are encouraging further investigation into these issues, she said.
The group are helping to organize an open air Water Forum this Sunday in Civic Square at 1pm with speakers which include anti-corruption campaigner Peter Cundall and world freshwater crayfish authority Todd Walsh.
Today we are drawing peoples attention to urgent situations such as those happening in the St Helens and Lilydale catchment areas. We hope that people will be inspired to attend the upcoming forum this Sunday, commented Dr Searle.
WAG will be repeating the action in the Brisbane Street mall again on Saturday morning.
WAG is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to environmental advocacy and ensuring a protected and sustainable future for Tasmania.
PoliticsPhil Harrington, Climate Action Hobart. Jess Wright, Environment Tasmania
12.03.10 9:45 am
Climate forum opens climate change commitments to public scrutiny
The climate change policies of Tasmanian political parties were open to public scrutiny last night at the ‘Vote for a Safe Climate’ forum hosted by Climate Action Hobart (CAH) and Environment Tasmania (ET). Over 150 Tasmanians watched as Lisa Singh MP, Vanessa Goodwin MP, Cassy O’Connor MP and election candidate Melanie Barnes went head to head on their party’s climate change credentials in a bid to win the votes of Tasmanians concerned about climate change.
“In the next week Tasmanians will be deciding who to vote for in the state election. It is critical that they are aware of the actions to mitigate the effects of climate change that will be taken by each political party before they vote” said Ms Wright spokesperson from Environment Tasmania.
Climate Action Hobart spokesperson Phil Harrington said “We believe there are ten steps that need to be taken to secure a safe climate for our future. We presented the audience and the political parties with a scorecard that ranks each of the parties climate policies compared to these ten steps”.
The ten steps (from CAH’s 10 Steps for a Safe Climate) include committing to reducing our greenhouse gas emission by 60% by 2020, 100% renewable energy by 2020, protecting Tasmania’s forests as natural carbon stores, reducing energy use and consumption, investing in public transport, and an overhaul of our planning system to encourage sustainable cities and regions across Tasmania.
The parties used the forum to launch some new policies relating to investment in renewable energy in Tasmania.
“It was positive to hear Labor announce a new policy for 100% renewable electricity by 2020, but it was dampened by their inability to give an undertaking that it would not include the burning of native forests to produce power.”
“The Greens also used the forum to highlight their commitment to making Tasmania a 100% renewable energy island with a crowd pleasing commitment that no native forests would be burnt to produce this power,” said Ms Wright.
The forum was the first step in CAH’s Safe Climate Scorecard campaign. The Scorecards rate the policies of the political parties contesting the state election as compared to the benchmarks set out in CAH’s Ten Steps to a Safe Climate - Tasmania’s contribution to preventing dangerous climate change.
“Over the next week we will be delivering 4000 Safe Climate Scorecards to households in Denison and Franklin to ensure that the community knows exactly where the parties stand on the crucial issue of climate change,” said Mr Harrington.
More information about Climate Action Hobart, the 10 Steps for a Safe Climate and the Safe Climate Scorecards is available at http://www.climateactionhobart.org
PoliticsSOUTHERN WATER ANSWERS COMMUNITY QUESTIONS IN GEEVESTON
Ian Dunbabin
12.03.10 8:10 am
Southern Water hosted a community information session on odour issues from the Geeveston
wastewater treatment plant.
The information session enabled Southern Water to get direct feedback from the community on
odour impacts and provide the community an update on actions being undertaken to reduce odour
from the plant.
Executive Manager of Service Delivery, Mr Ian Dunbabin, said that the main cause of the odour
problem was excessive loads on the plant.
“The wastewater treatment plant was constructed in 1992 and designed to treat approximately 400
households. It is now receiving around double the load it was originally designed for, with
wastewater coming from both residential and commercial sources.
“Southern Water is working with a major trade waste customer to minimise loads on the plant by
trucking liquid waste to a number of Hobart wastewater treatment plants.
“We have also fast tracked the installation of additional blowers at the plant and this has already
resulted in an immediate improvement in plant performance.
“In the medium term we are going to commission a significant upgrade to the plant. This has been
programmed into our Capital Expenditure Plan for 2010/2011.
“We can appreciate that the odour is causing problems for residents and thank them for their
patience as we work to resolve the issues as quickly as possible. We will keep the Geeveston
community informed on our progress through letterbox drops, articles in the newspaper and the
community noticeboard.”
FOREST DEFENDERS HIT THE POLLS EARLY
Lynda Blyth
11.03.10 6:17 pm
Faces of the Florentine
Ordinary people standing up for an extraordinary forest
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 11 March 2010
FOREST DEFENDERS HIT THE POLLS EARLY
Vote 1 for the Upper Florentine
Derwent Valley and Central Highlands residents have hit the polls early, voting ‘1’ for the protection of Tasmania’s old-growth forests by delivering more than 1200 signed postcards to Premier David Bartlett calling on him to end logging in the precious Upper Florentine Valley.
Ellendale resident Lynda Blyth today stated: “We strongly encourage all Tasmanians to only vote for candidates who commit to not log the Upper Florentine.”
The over thousand postcards was placed in a box marked with the words “Vote for the Florentine”, a symbolic gesture acknowledging the importance voters place on the protection of high conservation value forests.
The conservationists, mostly middle-aged Derwent Valley and Central Highlands residents, are among the 22 people who were all arrested in the Upper Florentine forest on Mother’s Day this year. The arrests took place during a rally at which more than 200 people voiced their dissent against the destruction of the World Heritage quality values of the Upper Florentine forests.
The Upper Florentine valley is virtually surrounded by Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and is largely untouched by industrial logging. The forest contains large areas of old growth forest that has been shown to be amongst the most carbon dense in the world, as well as caves containing evidence of Aboriginal occupation stretching back around 30 000 years.
Faces of the Florentine will continue to encourage fellow Tasmanians to visit the Upper Florentine forest to judge the situation for themselves.
Levelling the playing field: reforming forestry governance in Tasmania
Environment Tasmania
11.03.10 5:41 pm
Lunch-time Forum. 1pm Monday 15th March, Arts Lecture Theatre, University of Tasmania, Hobart
Levelling the playing field: reforming forestry governance in Tasmania
A recently commissioned expert report into the regulation of Tasmania’s forests & forests industry, ‘Levelling the playing field: Reforming Forestry governance in Tasmania’ has found that Tasmania’s forestry governance environment is a tilted playing field which favours extractive logging of State forests at the expense of conservation, tourism and community interests.
At the legal and regulatory level, the report found that the web of exemptions and special legislation surrounding forestry creates an impression among many of one law for forestry and another law for everyone else. The report makes a number of recommendations aimed at fixing this problem, such as the re- structuring of Forestry Tasmania, and is seeking public comment.
A lunchtime forum with the report author, governance expert, Dr Wynne Russell, is an opportunity for members of the public to discuss this issue, ask questions, raise concerns, and provide invaluable information into this important topic.
What: Lunch-time forum – Levelling the forestry playing field – Reforming forestry governance in Tasmania
Where: Arts Lecture Theatre, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus, Hobart
When: Monday 15th March, 1-2 pm
Who:
Dr Wynne Russell, CS Dev Associates, governance expert and author, ‘Levelling the playing field: Reforming Forestry Governance in Tasmania’,
Tom Baxter, Lecturer, School of Accounting & Corporate Governance, University of Tasmania
Dr Phill Pullinger, Director, Environment Tasmania Other speakers: TBC
For More Information or for copies of the report: Environment Tasmania - (03) 6224 6319 http://www.et.org.au
What's OnGeorge River Water Quality Panel
John Ramsay
11.03.10 12:50 pm
Expert Panel to Address George River Water Quality Issues
A panel of eminent, independent scientists has been brought together to address scientific
research issues and risks linked to water quality in the George River in Tasmania’s northeast.
The formation of the panel followed a recommendation by the Director of Public Health that a
process be established to address the issues raised in Australian Story ABC television
program.
The independent Chair of the Board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), John
Ramsay, has convened the Panel and will co-ordinate the gathering of the evidence and its
assessment by the experts.
“Panel members have been selected for their expertise in water quality, public health,
aquaculture, the chemistry of eucalypts and environmental toxicology,” Mr Ramsay said.
“It is the role of the panel to examine the evidence, write a report and then pass it onto the
Premier – my role is to facilitate this.”
Panellists are:
Water quality – Graeme Batley is a Chief Research Scientist in CSIRO’s
Environmental Biogeochemistry research program;
Public health – Dr John McNeil is head of the Monash University School of Public
Health and Preventative Medicine;
Aquaculture – Christine Crawford is Program Leader for Natural Resource
Management at the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute;
Chemistry of eucalypts – Distinguished Professor Jim Reid from the University of
Tasmania’s School of Plant Science; and
Environmental toxicology – Professor Michael Moore is Chair of Water Quality
Research Australia and past Director of the National Research Centre for
Environmental Toxicology.
Co-ordinating scientist and consultant to the panel is Dr Lois Koehnken.
Terms of reference - to:
1. review the results of the research carried out by Drs Bleaney and Scammell and any
other relevant studies;
2. decide whether any further characterisation of toxins in the water and their source or
toxicity studies are required to help determine whether the toxicity reported on
Australian Story represents a significant risk to:
a. Drinking water supplies, in St Helens (or more broadly given that many water
catchments in the State will contain significant areas of eucalypts);
b. Shellfish culture in Georges Bay or more broadly; or
c. Aquatic ecosystems.
3. commission or facilitate the undertaking of any such studies by suitably qualified and
independent scientists; and
4. provide an interim and final report to the Government on the findings of the review
and any further studies carried out. The final report should include recommendations
as to any actions or policies arising from the investigation.
Mr Ramsay said all information gathered and reviewed throughout the process would be
made public on http://www.georgeriverwater.org.au Details of the expertise and experience of the
Panel members will also be available on the website.
“The panel is also establishing a register of stakeholders and will provide information to
individuals and interest groups.
“Registrations of interest from the broader community should be lodged via the website
when it goes live at the end of the week,” he said.
Mr Ramsay said that on behalf of the Panel he is seeking all relevant information and reports
from the Director of Public Health, the Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries,
Parks, Water and Environment, Drs Bleaney and Scammell and Slater and Gordon.
An interim report addressing points one and two will be provided to Government of the day
by the end of May 2010.
Download:
GRWQP_CVs_-_Panel_As_distributed.pdf
SAVE RALPHS BAY INC. 6th ANNIVERSARY - CANDIDATES FORUM & SURVEY
Jane MacDonald, Save Ralphs Bay
11.03.10 7:13 am
Download as a pdf file at: http://www.saveralphsbay.org/pdf/SRBMedia11Mar10.pdf
Next Wednesday, March 17th, Save Ralphs Bay Inc. will mark the SIXTH ANNIVERSARY of the campaign to save Ralphs Bay from a proposed canal estate development. Back in 2004, the campaign to save Ralphs Bay began with a packed public meeting at the Lauderdale Hall on this date.
Six years on, and the community is still waiting for a final decision on the canal estate proposal.
Save Ralphs Bay Inc. is marking its sixth anniversary by holding a Franklin Candidates Forum in the Lauderdale Hall from 8.00 – 9.00pm on Wednesday, March 17th.
Confirmed attendees so far include Nick McKim, a high profile Labor candidate, Wendy Heatley and Ross Butler.
When inviting the candidates to attend, Bill Edmunds, SRB Chair said, “It is critically important that the voters in Franklin are informed regarding the intentions of your party concerning the Walker Corporation’s canal estate development at Lauderdale.”
Save Ralphs Bay Inc. has also written to candidates in the electorate of Franklin, asking for their responses to a series of questions relating to canal housing estates and the planning process. (See below).
Candidates have been asked to return their questionnaires by Sunday afternoon, March 14th. The results will be released to the media early next week.
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES IN THE 2010 TASMANIAN STATE ELECTION
1. Do you support the construction of a canal housing estate inside Ralphs
Bay? Please explain.
2. Do you support the construction of canal housing estates anywhere else in
Tasmania? Please explain.
3. Do you support a Tasmanian ban on canal estate developments? Please
explain.
4. Do you support the detailed examination of the Coastal Protection (Ban
Canal Estate Development) Bill 2009 by the Joint House Committee on Environment, Resources and Development? Please explain.
5. Do you support detailed examination of the reasons behind the canal
estate bans in Victoria and New South Wales, by the Joint House Committee on Environment, Resources and Development? Please explain.
6. Do you support detailed examination by this Joint House Committee of the
risks to Tasmania of allowing canal estate developments in this state?
Please explain.
7. What circumstances would cause you to NOT support a Tasmanian canal
estate ban? Please explain.
8. Do you support additional funding for the Tasmanian Planning Commission,
to provide assistance for the Tasmanian community to engage large corporations in the Commission process fairly and on an even playing field?
Please explain.
9. Do you support additional funding for the Tasmanian Planning Commission
to produce transcripts of TPC hearings, freely available for scrutiny by media and the public on the Commission’s website? Please explain.
—Save Ralphs Bay Inc. : http://www.SaveRalphsBay.org—
PoliticsPublic Forum on Forest and Water Governance
Our Common Ground
10.03.10 8:35 pm
What: Public Forum on Forest and Water Governance
When: 12:30 Thursday, 11 Mar 2010
Where: Launceston, Grand Chancellor Hotel - Function Room 6, 29 Cameron St
Who: Dr Roscoe Taylor, Peter Cundall, Dr Andrew Lohrey, Dr Wynne Russell, Dr Phill Pullinger.
Conflicts of interest and poor governance continue to dog Tasmania’s environment.
There is a widespread perception that there is one law for forestry and another for everyone else. Now the water toxin revelations in St Helens have created a crisis of public confidence in our drinking water.
How will each party restore public trust and improve governance?
Labor, the Liberals and Greens have been asked how they would:
• remove conflicts of interest in ministerial portfolios;
• remove conflicts of interest in government bodies;
• fix the regulation of forestry so that there is a level playing field; and
• properly investigate and fix the contamination of our drinking water catchments with toxins.
PoliticsCaution still needed despite findings from new devil research
Senator Christine Milne
10.03.10 8:34 pm
News today of researchers confirming a genetically diverse Tasmanian devil population in the state’s North West has been welcomed by Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne.
Researchers from the universities of Sydney and Tasmania are hopeful of a natural immunity to devil facial tumour disease being present in the genetic make-up of the North West devils, but Senator Milne has warned there is still a long way to go if we are to save them from extinction.
“It is very encouraging to learn of a possible immune population in Tasmania’s North West. But we must still do all we can to keep devil facial tumour disease out of the devil’s final stronghold because there are too many uncertainties surrounding the new research.”
“The discovery of a genetically different population certainly gives us hope, but there is a long way to go before it can be proven that these devil’s will not succumb to the disease. After all, we all thought Cedric was immune.”
“Today’s findings should not be taken as a declaration of open season on the devil’s valuable habitat. Opening the Tarkine region to development, be it tourist roads, mines or forestry will still place the devil under extreme pressure”
“If anything, it is more important than ever to protect our disease free devils, as now they may have a fighting chance of survival if, and only if, their habitat is left in its natural state and the risk of facial tumour disease being introduced is permanently minimised.”
“It is also imperative that we do not abandon hope of protecting the 80 percent of devils susceptible to this terrible contagious cancer, and it is concerning to note the researcher’s suggestion that we put all our efforts into protecting just the 20 percent of devils found to have possible immunity.”
“This places all our eggs in the one basket and narrows the devil’s already limited genetic diversity, leaving it vulnerable to other diseases.”
“Today’s announcement represents a hopeful glimmer on the horizon for our iconic devil, but, as the Federal Minister for the Environment is currently accepting submissions to uplist the Tasmanian devil to critically endangered, we must remember there is a long way to go and we are running out of time.”
“It wasn’t so long ago that Cedric was hailed as the key to the devil’s survival. Some scientists speculate that his immunity was due to his mother being a wild caught devil from the west of Tasmania. But disease took hold in the end. Scientists are saying this could happen in the North West as new strains emerge and adapt to their seemingly immune hosts.”
“We must, therefore, still do all we can to keep the devil away from the disease.”
PoliticsGreens’ forest policy a welcome step towards a full forest solution
Vica Bayley, Wilderness Society
10.03.10 3:00 pm
MEDIA RELEASE – 10 January 2010
The Wilderness Society today welcomed the Greens Forest Transition strategy as a step in the right direction, offering high-conservation-value forest protection along with a plan for widespread reform to the forest industry.
“This policy is in stark contrast to the old-style logging policies of Liberal and Labor and offers real hope of resolving the conflict over forestry in Tasmania,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.
“We welcome any policy which seeks to protect identified areas of high-conservation-value forests including oldgrowth and rainforests.”
“Tasmania needs a comprehensive approach that rapidly shifts industrial scale logging out of native forests, to create a win-win outcome for the logging industry, the economy, community and environment.”
“It is disappointing that both Labor and Liberal have released forestry policies which simply benefit the major logging companies and entrench the conflict, leading to further job losses and environmental destruction.
“The Wilderness Society supports small-scale, high-value, low-volume logging of native forests for specialty craft timbers, but the bulk of the native-forest logging industry needs to be rapidly shifted into the existing plantation estate.”
The Wilderness Society also welcomes the following points in the Greens’ policy:
· A reform of governance arrangements within the forestry industry, including a restructure of Forestry Tasmania
· Financial support and assistance for forest workers
· Opposition of proposals to burn native forests for power generation
· Promotion and development of alternative employment opportunities in Tasmania’s forests
“With the timber industry in crisis, we need a new approach to forestry in Tasmania. Of the three major parties, the Greens are the only ones going to this election with a policy which doesn’t continue the forest destruction and taxpayer handouts to an antiquated industry,” said Mr Bayley.
Website: http://www.wilderness.org.au
PoliticsFOREST DEFENDERS HIT THE POLLS EARLY
Lynda Blyth
10.03.10 2:58 pm
Faces of the Florentine
Ordinary people standing up for an extraordinary forest
MEDIA ALERT
TOMORROW - Thursday 11th March 2010
FOREST DEFENDERS HIT THE POLLS EARLY
Vote 1 for the Upper Florentine
WHEN: TOMORROW – 12.30pm
WHERE: Premier Bartlett’s office, Executive Building,
Murray St. Hobart
Derwent Valley and Central Highlands residents will hit the polls early this week, voting ‘1’ for the protection of Tasmania’s old-growth forests by delivering more than 1200 signed postcards to Premier David Bartlett, calling on him to end logging in the precious Upper Florentine Valley.
The postcards will be placed in a box marked with the words “Vote for the Florentine”, a symbolic gesture acknowledging the importance voters place on the protection of high conservation value forests.
Authorised by Lynda Blyth, 50 Coopers Road Ellendale 7140
http://www.facesoftheflorentine.com
What's On
Vote for a Safe Climate Public Forum
Phil Harrington, Climate Action Hobart. Jess Wright, Environment Tasmania
10.03.10 2:24 pm
MEDIA ALERT
Tomorrow – Thursday 11th March 2010
‘Vote for a Safe Climate’ Public Forum
When: Tomorrow, Thursday 11th March – 6.30pm
Where: Stanley Burbury Lecture Theatre, UTAS, Churchill Ave, Sandy Bay.
What: Tasmanian political parties go head to head on their climate credentials in the lead up to the state election.
Speakers: Lisa Singh MP, Tasmanian Labor Party; Vanessa Goodwin MLC, Tasmanian Liberal Party; Cassy O’Connor MP, Tasmanian Greens; Melanie Barnes, Socialist Alliance state election candidate.
This forum is a joint initiative of Climate Action Hobart (CAH) and Environment Tasmania (ET) and will be chaired by climate change commentator Peter Boyer.
Speakers have been asked to outline their party’s climate policies, announce any new climate change mitigation policies and respond to an analysis of their current climate policies presented by CAH. This analysis is in the form of a ‘Safe Climate Scorecard’ which rates the parties’ policies as compared to the benchmarks set out in CAH’s Ten Steps to a Safe Climate - Tasmania’s contribution to preventing dangerous climate change. The Scorecard will be launched at the forum and letterboxed to households in the Denison electorate before the state election.
Climate Action Hobart is a grassroots climate action group formed in March 2009 to promote community involvement in achieving strong climate policy in Tasmania. Environment Tasmania is Tasmania’s conservation council, an umbrella body that represents 21 Tasmanian conservation groups, with collective representation of over 6000 Tasmanians.
Download scorecard:
scorecard_2_sides.pdf
So, can we now have that forestry debate?
Peter Skillern, Our Common Ground
10.03.10 11:24 am
After the Greens released their forestry policy today, Our Common Ground again called for a dedicated leaders’ debate on forestry issues.
The coalition, which seeks to end old fights over forestry, said there is no excuse for Will Hodgman, David Bartlett and Nick McKim not to dedicate a couple of hours to something so fundamental to Tasmania’s culture, environment and economy.
“There is no reason we can’t have a dedicated debate on forestry policy,” said Peter Skillern, spokesperson for Our Common Ground.
Mr Skillern noted the forestry-related events that have happened since the election was called:
• A drop in Gunns profit of 98 per cent
• FEA in Launceston suspending share trading on the ASX
• Forest contractors still struggling
• A toxic water scandal in St Helens
“For decades, Tasmanian politics has pretended that markets for our products are not changing,” said Mr Skillern. “Well, look where we are now: an industry in crisis, and Tasmania importing timber products from New Zealand.”
He said there is no excuse for Tasmanians to be denied a meaningful debate about an issue so central to the state’s economic development and brand.
Our Common Ground is a coalition of community and business leaders, environment groups and timber workers who are committed to finding a solution to Tasmania’s forestry conflict.
PoliticsGREENS DELIVER NEW TIMBER JOBS WHILE PROTECTING HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE FORESTS
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader Kim Booth MP Greens Forests spokesperson
09.03.10 4:10 pm
mps.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today released their Forest Transition Strategy 2010 (FTS) which will create more jobs and wealth in the Tasmanian timber industry, while protecting world-renowned high conservation value forests.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that the Greens’ FTS will heal community wounds caused by decades of division on forest policy, and will result in a timber industry that every Tasmanian can be proud of.
Mr McKim also said that the Greens’ FTS will create 542 more jobs in the timber industry within five years by using timber more efficiently, retooling sawmills to achieve higher recovery rates, and managing the plantation estate to deliver more high grade sawlogs.
“The Greens have a sensible plan to create more timber jobs, save our magnificent high conservation value forests, and deliver a timber industry that each and every Tasmanian can be proud of.”
“This not only can be done, it must be done for our forests, our timber workers, and for Tasmania’s future.”
“For too long Tasmania’s magnificent high conservation value forests have been desecrated for woodchips, for too long the plight of forest workers has been ignored, and for too long our people have been divided by this debate. The Greens stand ready to deliver a solution.”
“Labor and Liberal have buried their heads in the sand for far too long, and it is the forest workers who are bearing the brunt. The industry must be restructured so that it can provide sustainable jobs, meet the expectations of international markets, and operate in a way that respects Tasmania’s high conservation value forests.”
“The Greens’ Forest Transition Strategy delivers a sustainable future for our forests, Tasmania’s timber industry, and the workers and families that rely on it for support.”
“Assistance will be provided to any timber industry workers who are already doing in tough through no fault of their own, including vocational training, wage subsidies, relocation costs, and income support.”
Download: Tasmania’s Forests: The Way Forward – A Forest Transition Strategy to Protect Forests and Create Sustainable Jobs, launched by Nick McKim MP, March 2010:
Forest_Transition_Strategy_More_Jobs_Less_Logs_N_McKim_MP.pdf
PoliticsWill Mooney
09.03.10 8:20 am
The Huon Valley Environment Centre and Environment Tasmania are hosting a community forum about wood fired power stations between 12.30-1.30 pm at the Hobart Town Hall on Thursday March the 18th.
Speakers including Alistair Graham (Humane Society International), Dr Peter McQuillan (Utas school of Geography and Environmental Studies) and Will Mooney (Huon Valley Environment Centre) will discuss the potential environmental and community impacts of plans to burn native forests for power generation in Tasmania. Other speakers have been invited and will be announced closer to the date.
With sales of native forest woodchips declining, the Tasmanian forestry industry is desperate to lock in markets to entrench large scale, destructive logging. With an election looming, now is a critical time for Tasmanians to express their concerns and SAY NO TO WOOD FIRED POWER!
Details: HERE
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