Environment Tasmania today welcomed the conclusion of the Legislative Council Select Committee inquiry into the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Bill 2012, in anticipation of the next critical step in the forests agreement process – passage of legislation to enable the agreement to be turned into reality.
“The Forests agreement has been a long and difficult process, and the Legislative Council inquiry has provided a forum for detailed submissions and scrutiny of the agreement,” said Dr Phill Pullinger from Environment Tasmania
“What is absolutely clear is that a negotiated agreement is the only way forward,”
“Now that the Legislative Council inquiry has concluded, we look forward to the critical next step – finalization of the agreement process and passage of legislation through the Upper House, to provide much needed certainty to the Tasmanian forestry industry, to provide protection of forests of national & world heritage significance, and to allow the Tasmanian community to move on from years of bitter and divisive conflict,” he said
“As a signatory committed to the agreement, we are committed to support a legislative package that is consistent with the agreement, and stand ready to provide assistance to the legislative council in their deliberations to finalise the agreement and the legislation,” concluded Dr Pullinger
Dr Phill Pullinger, Environment Tasmania
