Campaign highlights benefits of forest agreement

The Deputy Premier Bryan Green today launched a campaign featuring real Tasmanians talking about the benefits of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement.

“This campaign highlights the fact that the Tasmanian community wants to move on from the conflict over forestry.

“We have had the debate over forestry and now it’s time to move on,” Mr Green said.

“The TFA is now law; it is what the industry and environmental groups worked so hard to achieve and the outcome has been welcomed by most Tasmanians.

Mr Green said the television and radio campaign demonstrated that people are sick and tired of the debate over forestry.

Mr Green said the misinformation being spread by the Liberals and fringe groups were at odds with the broader environmental movement and the Tasmanian community.

“It’s only the Liberal party and a few environmental fringe groups who are out of step with what most people want.

“The Tasmanian community wants to be able to move on now that the Tasmanian Forest Agreement has been signed and the legislation is in place.

“The agreement secures the future of our forest industry, delivers significant conservation and jobs outcomes while enabling regional communities around Tasmania to diversify their economies.

Mr Green said the release today of Ta Ann’s financial results and its expectation that markets will improve as a result of the TFA was further evidence of the need for the agreement.

“Ta Ann’s performance was a direct result of the problems facing the forest products industry prior to the certainty provided by the TFA.

“I strongly believe that most Tasmanians are now looking positively to the future – they want the conflict to end,” Mr Green said.

Deputy Premier Bryan Green