Vica Bayley Wilderness Society MR
A logging industry representative and Premier David Bartlett will be invited to speak at each event, sharing the stage with The Wilderness Society and fielding questions from the floor. The public will then be given an opportunity to give their number one idea for a way forward for Tasmania to resolve the forest debate and begin to heal the community.
MEDIA RELEASE – Friday 23rd January 2009
WILDERNESS SOCIETY SEEKS COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO THE FOREST DEBATE
The Wilderness Society is inviting the community to help provide solutions to the forestry debate and start a new chapter in creating positive dialogue between conservation and industry stakeholders and government through a series of ‘community conversations’, to be held across the state.
“I firmly believe a solution to the current stalemate is possible and the community has a critical role to play in helping forge a positive path forward,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.
A logging industry representative and Premier David Bartlett will be invited to speak at each event, sharing the stage with The Wilderness Society and fielding questions from the floor. The public will then be given an opportunity to give their number one idea for a way forward for Tasmania to resolve the forest debate and begin to heal the community.
These suggestions will then be delivered to the Premier when parliament resumes.
“The forest debate in Tasmania has been using the same arguments and putting forward entrenched views for decades. We now are at a critical juncture and The Wilderness Society believes that there is a positive way forward that delivers both environmental protection and a healthy economy,” he continued.
“We need to find this way forward, to resolve the debate and heal community wounds and this can only happen with the engagement of industry stakeholders and government, respectful dialogue and agreement on common goals,” concluded Mr Bayley.
Events are organised in Westerway (5th Feb), New Norfolk (10th Feb) and Hobart (12th Feb) with more planned for the north of the state. Industry stakeholders Forestry Tasmania (5th Feb), the CFMEU (10th Feb) and FIAT (12th Feb) will be invited to share presentation time with The Wilderness Society and participate in the community discussion. Each event will be independently mediated by an agreed facilitator.
