Forestry burns causing havoc for Smithton residents

Pic: John Hawkins

Pic: Bob Hawkins

The Tasmanian Greens today accused the Health Minister of ignoring the serious health impacts from Forestry Tasmania’s so-called regeneration burns, amid reports that smoke blanketing Smithton yesterday exceeded the national guideline limit by a factor of four.

In State Parliament today, Greens Health spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said the concerns had been expressed publicly by a Smithton-based general practitioner, who also reported suffering respiratory symptoms as a result of the smoke.

“Investigations by the doctor in question revealed that between 8:00am and 9:30am on Wednesday the 11th of April the particulate levels reached 100 mcg/m3, which is around four times the upper limit under the current national guidelines,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“Who is going to be held account for inflicting this terrible blight on the people of Smithton?”

“The Minister’s argument that you cannot categorically show that this smoke causes illness is the same argument used by the tobacco industry for decades.”

“The Minister is being an apologist for these appalling practices, which cause so much sickness and inconvenience for Tasmanians every year.”

“The young and the elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory illness are particularly vulnerable ot the cocktail of toxic chemicals and microscopic particulars which can penetrate lung tissue.”

“Research from the Menzies Institute clearly makes the link between bad health and hot fires like the ones conducted by Forestry Tasmania during autumn.”

“Forest industry burns are bad for climate, bad for tourism, bad for health and bad for the clean, green image that we have worked so hard to create.”

“These hot burns are completely different in their nature and intent to the cool burns used for hazard reduction, which are designed to alleviate fire risk and have the Greens’ support.”

• TT yesterday: Forestry burn-offs set to threaten health and well-being