Will Senator Minchin now admit that he misled the Senate …

Questions without notice
7 December 2006
Senator MILNE (2.39 p.m.) — My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Minchin, and it relates to the Prime Minister’s 2004 election promise to protect 18,700 hectares of old-growth forest in the Styx and Florentine valleys in Tasmania. In light of the logging operations proceeding there at the moment and the admission by his colleague Senator Abetz, the minister for forests, that not all of the upper Florentine valley was protected as pledged during the 2004 election campaign, will Senator Minchin now admit that he misled the Senate when on 30 March 2006 he said:
It is absolutely outrageous to suggest that the Prime Minister has not honoured his promise. He is honouring his promises to the people of Tasmania in full. This was a major commitment to the people of Tasmania …
Download and read: QWN_Tas_forest_election_pledge_071206.pdf

Questions without notice: Take note of Answers
Environment: Tasmania
8 December 2006
Senator MILNE Tasmania) (3.45 p.m.) — I move:
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance and Administration (Senator Minchin) to a question without notice asked by Senator Milne today relating to the Styx and Florentine valleys, Tasmania.
It is very clear that Senator Minchin did mislead the Senate earlier this year when he suggested that it was outrageous to say that the Prime Minister had not honoured his promise to protect forests in the Upper Florentine Valley and the Styx. Senator Abetz, the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, has said that not all the Upper Florentine Valley was protected as pledged during the 2004 election campaign. Senator Minchin’s own colleague has revealed that he misled the Senate. I think it is tragic that he was not able or big enough to stand up and say that he had misled the Senate or, alternatively, repudiate Senator Abetz and uphold the Prime Minister’s pledge to protect those forests, as was promised.
Download and read: Taking_note_of_answers_forests_election_pledge_061206.pdf