DIVISIVE BARTLETT AVOIDS CONSERVATION GROUPS

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today challenged Premier David Bartlett to meet with the State’s peak environment groups, including Environment Tasmania and the Wilderness Society, as they have been asking him to do since he became Premier.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that as Premier, David Bartlett has a crucial role in uniting the Tasmanian community to ensure that the state can have the best possible future, but his refusal to meet with conservation groups since he became Premier, shows a distinct lack of leadership.

“The government should govern on behalf of all Tasmanians, not just its supporters, but David Bartlett’s refusal to meet with the State’s peak environment groups exposes that the Premier has adopted an in-club and out-club divisive approach,” Mr McKim said.

“Once again David Bartlett’s poor judgement and lack of real leadership is on show.”

“As Greens Leader, I have met with both Forestry Tasmania and the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania in a good faith attempt to find common ground and heal some of the wounds suffered by the Tasmanian community during debates on resource extraction over many years.”

“David Bartlett must explain why he has yet met with peak environment groups like Environment Tasmania and the Wilderness Society since he has been Premier, despite many requests from those groups for such meetings to occur.”

“Sadly, it appears that David Bartlett is prepared to maintain, and even foster, division in our community because he believes it is in his own political interests to do so.”
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader