How Does that Help Local Businesses Mr Brooks?
The Tasmanian Greens today slammed the State Liberals for threatening to retract the official naming of the Tarkine should they ever form Government.
Greens Member for Braddon, Paul O’Halloran MP, said that this shocking threat risked undermining and de-valuing local businesses and the broader tourism sector, which have invested in leveraging the national and international recognition of the Tarkine brand.
Mr O’Halloran also challenged Mr Brooks to prove that the move is not just a political stunt by asking him during question time whether he was prepared to bring on for debate during the Liberals’ private member’s time any of his numerous motions on the Tarkine and mining in the north west, to which Mr Brooks answered ‘no.’
“What a reckless threat to be made by the Liberals’ Small Business spokesperson, to try and trash a well established brand icon with national and international recognition,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“Is Mr Brooks offering compensation to the many local and small businesses who have invested in marketing their operations around the Tarkine.”
“Businesses such as Tarkine Lodge, or Tarkine Trails? Or the burgeoning new growth area in adventure tourism.”
“Adam Brooks is all bluff, he will say anything to try and win votes and in this case he has cut his own throat. He had an opportunity to explain himself today, but buckled at the knees.”
“On one hand he is trying to appeal to those in favour of destroying the Tarkine, on the other hand he is hanging local businesses out to dry. Businesses he claims to support.”
“A broad cross section of businesses in Tasmania have contributed to building the Tarkine brand to the point where it is now globally recognised and they rely upon its strength.”
“Mr Brooks is trying to undermine the strength of the Tarkine brand for his own self interest, he is failing to keep in mind that the term ‘Tarkine’ is now consistently utilised across marketing and investment strategies.”
“No doubt Mr Brooks will try to sit on the fence or talk his way out of this irresponsible fiasco, but the Greens believe he has a responsibility to explain himself to the businesses and operators who rely on the genuine Tarkine brand.”
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