All five Tasmanian Labor Senators have today voted with the Greens to lock up Tasmanian farmland.
The Labor Party joined with the Greens in the Senate to block an attempt by the Liberal Party to stop the listing of native grasslands on Tasmanian farmland, a listing which is vehemently opposed by farmers.
“Labor, once again, has failed to stand up for farmers and rural communities,” Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said.
“Tasmania’s Labor Senators could have put the brakes on Environment Minister Peter Garrett’s misguided bid to list Tasmania’s native grasslands as critically endangered but instead they voted with the Greens Senators to lock up Tasmanian farmland.
“Labor is more interested in going in with a jack-boot approach to farmers, rather than working with them co-operatively to produce positive environmental and economic outcomes.
“The Labor Senators’ action confirms the Rudd Government is out of touch on rural issues and that Labor does not trust farmers to manage sensitive areas on private property.
“Lyons MP Dick Adams has also failed on this issue. In June, Mr Adams said he would fight this listing, but he achieved absolutely nothing and instead rolled over and took his orders from Minister Garrett.
“Tasmania’s rural community, particularly those affected farmers in the Northern Midlands and on the East Coast, will be incredibly disappointed in Mr Adams and his Labor colleagues.
“Mr Adams and his Labor colleagues say one thing when in Tasmania, but once in Canberra they follow the orders of Minister Garrett who has no sympathy for the rural sector.
Senator Colbeck said while the Coalition disallowance motion may have been voted down by Labor and the Greens, at least it forced Minister Garrett to do more for the affected landowners – and that is far more than Mr Adams has achieved since June.
Senator Richard Colbeck
