Peter McGlone: Tasmanian Forests Agreement Bill 2013 must be amended

The Lower House is to convene on Tuesday 30 April 2013 to debate the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Bill 2013, as amended by the Legislative Council.

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust stated today (Fri) that the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Bill 2013, as it stands, is unacceptable and calls on the Tasmanian Greens to substantially amend it to address key concerns regarding weakening of the Forest Practices Act and the timing of reserves.

The TCT Director Peter McGlone, said that ‘In particular the amendments made by the Legislative Council to the Forest Practices Act, which would allow Forestry Tasmania to operate outside of the Forest Practices Code, should be removed by the Tasmanian Greens from the final act.’

‘Granting amendments to the Forest Practices Code would remove existing protections given to endangered forest dwelling species, lead to intensification of logging and diminish the integrity of the forest practices system.’

‘The amendments which delay the creation of most of the reserves until at least October 2014 are also unacceptable.’

‘Only 88,000ha out of the original 563,000ha of proposed reserves would be created with the passage of the TFA Bill and the remainder would probably never be be secured as Tasmania is likely to have a Liberal Government after the next election.’

‘At an absolute minimum the Tasmanian Greens should insist that the TFA Bill does not amend the Forest Practices Act and that the entire 123,000 ha area proposed for inclusion into the world heritage area is reserved upfront by the TFA Bill,” Mr McGlone concluded.

Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc
Ph: 03 62 343552
2nd fl, 191-193 Liverpool St, Hobart 7000
Email : tct6@bigpond.com
Fax: 03 62 312491

Web: www.tct.org.au
Tasmanian Conservation Trust Director Peter McGlone