BARTLETT DUCKS FOREST ISSUE AND GIVES POLICE A HEADACHE

The Tasmanian Greens today said that the decision to drop charges against four Florentine protesters is the direct result of a leadership failure by the Premier, David Bartlett.

Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that Premier Bartlett’s cynical and timid refusal to engage with conservationists about the forests issue had dumped the debate in the laps of the police.

The charges were dropped in the Hobart Magistrates Court after the police said that there was insufficient evidence or reason to sustain a prosecution.

“Mr Bartlett has cynically allowed the forests issue to become a skirmish between conservationists, forestry workers and the police, and by doing so he has given the police a massive headache when it comes to sustaining prosecutions against peaceful protesters,” Mr Booth said.

“Premier Bartlett should demonstrate genuine leadership, meet with the conservation movement, and move to resolve this issue, rather than expecting the police to sort it all out.”

“Mr Bartlett has deliberately used the forests debate as a wedge to divide the community by deliberating targeting iconic high conservation forests to send the chainsaws into.”

“Forest workers are also being used as pawns in David Bartlett’s game by forcing them into contentious areas at the same time there is a massive glut in woodfibre and Forestry Tasmania is chipping sawlogs and minor species.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming spokesperson