Economy
Seeking to end conflict
BRINGING an end to the conflict over Tasmania’s forests is the aim of a new community organisation.
The apolitical “Our Common Ground” coalition wants to find a compromise in the polarised debate between protecting jobs and protecting native forests.
The group has raised several hundred thousand dollars for its campaign, although organisers won’t be drawn on who their most generous donors have been.
Key ambitions are to protect timber workers’ jobs while shifting forestry from being based on woodchips and native forests to an industry centred on plantations.
It has already met Timber Communities Australia representatives and is planning talks with organisations such as the Forest Industries Association and Forestry Tasmania.
The group’s ranks include former Labor forests minister Andrew Lohrey; former Tasmanian Liberal Party director Peter Skillern; well-known retired ABC broadcaster Judy Tierney and millionaire businessman and Wotif founder Graeme Wood.
Environment Tasmania director Phill Pullinger and Wilderness Society pulp mill campaigner Vica Bayley are also founding members.
Picture: Rob Blakers