Senate saves Tasmania’s lowland grasslands from Liberal attack

Tasmania’s lowland native grasslands’ listing as critically endangered under Commonwealth legislation is assured after the Senate rejected a dangerous bid by Tasmanian Liberal Senators to disallow the listing.

“It is hard to believe that, after three years of scientific assessment and consultation, the Liberal Party would want to stand in the way of protecting the grasslands,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

“Not only are the grasslands one of the most threatened vegetation types in Australia, they are also home to, or used as feeding ground for many endangered animals such as the Wedge-tailed Eagle, Tasmanian Devil, Spotted-tail Quoll, Eastern-barred Bandicoot and Bass Strait Wombat.

“Far from the ‘jackboot’ or ‘lock up’ approach alleged by Senator Colbeck, the grasslands will continue to be grazed and support the superior wool quality yields for which they are renowned.

“I am confident that farmers will be keen to steward the grasslands and not destroy them with inappropriate practices.

“I congratulate Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick and the group of expert scientists who have worked for years for the protection of these grasslands in the face of threats from clearing and conversion of land, invasion by weeds and feral animals, salinity, urban expansion and off-road vehicle disturbance.

“Had the Tasmanian Liberals’ bid to disallow this listing been successful, it would have set a shocking precedent that politics could trump science in the listing of endangered species.

“In the years since the EPBC Act became law, never had anyone yet tried to take political action to prevent a scientifically validated listing from proceeding.”
Senator Christine Milne