INQUIRY TO SHINE LIGHT ON DODGY FOREST EXIT GRANTS

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the support of the Liberal and Labor parties for an inquiry into the administration of forest contractor exit payments under the terms of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement.

Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP said all three political parties have refined the original terms of reference in the Liberal Party’s motion to ensure that the state inquiry would be as comprehensive and targeted as possible.

Mr Booth today moved amendments to reflect the tenor of the Tasmanian Greens’ motion, allowing the inquiry to also look into the first round of grant payments in 2009.

“This inquiry should help to answer some of unanswered questions around the administration of these grants, including claims that a significant number of contractors did not meet the eligibility criteria for exit payments,” Mr Booth said.

“It should also get help bottom of the serious questions over Forestry Tasmania’s decision last year to send unauthorised letters of support for the applicants’ exit from the public native forestry industry.”

“It is good to see some constructive co-operation between all three political parties, and we hope that this spirit of co-operation will continue as the inquiry progresses.”

“We hope that the Liberals’ support for this inquiry is about more than just attacking the Tasmanian Forests Agreement, because the Greens’ interest here is about ensuring probity and transparency.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Forestry Spokesperson Wednesday, 20 March 2013