Economy
Abbott-Abetz: Environment? What environment?
Pic: This plan would see World Heritage listed rainforest logged in the Weld Valley. Rob Blakers http://www.robblakers.com
Well, within the week we’ll have a new Government sworn in – an Abbott Government. What will that mean for the Tasmanian Forest Agreement and the TFA Act 2013 that followed it? Liberal policy that was taken to the election was confused:
“Our nation’s forestry sector should be competitive and sustainable. The forestry sector should be supported and appropriately regulated by the Commonwealth – it should not be vilified and undermined through Government policies. The Coalition will revitalise the Australian forest industry. We understand the vital position forestry has in many regional economies. We understand the opportunities that exist for high quality, high value timber products, for a range of emerging cellulose based products and as the building material of the 21st century. We understand the important role forestry has in managing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2). […] We will also cut red tape by $1 billion per year across the board. This will significantly reduce the regulatory burden on the forestry industry. Within the first week of a Coalition we will suspend any further forest lock-ups. The Coalition will maintain its support for long-term Regional Forest Agreements.”
[The Coalition’s Policy for a Strong and Sustainable Forestry Industry September 2013]
It did not mention the TFA Act 2013, the WHA extensions or the 100,000ha that is now awaiting gazettal as Reserve. The policy does state that following reviews of the nation’s various Regional Forest Agreements, the RFAs will be extended by five years, beginning with Tasmania. The incoming govt has promised to amend the renewable energy regulations so that wood bio mass benefits from ‘energy initiatives available to other energy sources’. Are we understanding ‘Renewable Energy Certificates? And will HCV forests be used as a ‘wood biomass’ energy source? Associated with this policy is the Liberal policy promise to reverse ‘the exclusion of native forest sourced wood waste as an eligible source of energy for Renewable Energy Certificates’. What will building a strong and sustainable forest industry in Australia cost? $15m over four years, according to the Costings released by the Opposition on the day before election comment blackout. What will it cost to implement the Federal Coalition’s Plan to Grow Tasmania? – $74m, over four years. (This grew out of a discussion paper – May 2013 – authored by Liberal Senators Abetz, Colbeck, Perry and Bushby who together formed a working group established by Tony Abbott)
Things became a little clearer the very morning after the Saturday 7 Sept Federal election victory. Eric Abetz made a statement on the lawns outside the Tasmanian Parliament (a significant location for this about-to-be-born-again Federal Minister). Apart from noting the strong successes in Lyons, Bass and Braddon, he had this to say:
“In relation to Tasmania, the job is only half done. We have removed the Green-Labor Government from Canberra that has stifled the economic opportunities for this state, but that’s only half the task. The other half of the task is from now until March the 14th next year, where we need to remove the Green Labor Government from Hobart.
“In relation to forestry can I make this observation, that there has been a lot of self appointed individuals asserting that they were speaking for and on behalf of the Tasmanian people. Yesterday, the Tasmanian people had the opportunity to speak and did they speak! They spoke in volumes at the ballot box and those that assert that forestry needs a social licence by people sitting round a boardroom, can I simply remind them that the ultimate social licence comes from the people in a democracy and the people spoke and they spoke very loud and clear that they do not like their state being toyed with, with private deals between private enterprise, organisations and non-government organisations.” [see the ABC’s ‘The Liberals set their sights on the next state election’]
That was the Sunday. Then on the Monday, Andrew Nikolic told ABC News (‘Forest controversy reignites in Tasmania’) that the entire forest policy must be scrapped:
“We don’t need any more lock ups. What we need to do is leverage a valuable, sustainable industry for our state. When you think about it, forestry and mining constitute 56 per cent of Tasmania’s exports. We cannot get rid of those valuable industries and not expect an awful impact on our economy.”
And Will Hodgman didn’t miss his cue. The ABC reported him as saying that ‘he’s ready to unravel the agreement that he describes as a mess’:
“You don’t shut down the industry or lock up its resource if you want to see more jobs and more investment. Our position’s clear. Tasmanians had their chance to vote, as I say, last weekend, and they’ll get their chance to do so again the next state election”
Felicity Olgivie concluded her report thus:
“Revoking the world heritage listing won’t be easy for the Coalition. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has removed world heritage listings in the past when nations have destroyed the heritage that was protected. But a member state has never withdrawn their own listing.”
As that first week lengthened, Eric Abetz gave an interview to Airlie Ward, of the ABC’s Friday Stateline Program:
“[…]
WARD Now Tasmania has been a Labor stronghold until last weekend. There was a massive swing to the Liberal Party. When will Tasmanian voters then see results from placing their faith in you?
ABETZ We will get on with our half in Canberra. The other half clearly will have to happen in March next year when we hope there will be a majority Liberal government and then we can work together, Canberra and Hobart. In the next six months as a Federal Government we will be planning and working out how to best roll out our promises for Tasmania. They stand – like the extension of the Hobart Airport, like our assistance to Cadbury’s, so those policies will be rolled out because they don’t rely on the state government.
[…]
WARD In the Coalition’s plan again for Tasmania, there’s a commitment to honour the existing and committed contracts under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement. How can you do that but support the delisting of the new World Heritage Area?
ABETZ Businesses that have been promised money and as a result are planning on that basis, are entitled to have planned on that basis and undertaken the various measures that they have in expectation of the money. So we believe in honouring those promises.
WARD So how are you going to do it?
ABETZ We will be approaching the World Heritage Commission and advising them that there is no social licence – and there’s been a lot of talk about social licence in relation to forestry – well the best social licence you can get is through the ballot box. The people have actually now spoken on this issue and we will do whatever we can to restore to Tasmanians the land that they want for multiple use forestry.
WARD What, even if that means renouncing World Heritage Convention?
ABETZ I’ve seen reports to that extent, can I say, I think they are far-fetched. Each World Heritage listing is determined on its own merits and regrettably the listing that just went forward did not take into account the wishes of the Tasmanian people.
Now, with the announcement of Abbott’s Ministry, we see Abetz has been given the position that he requested, and will be our next Minister for Employment. In addition to that, he will assume the role of ‘Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public Service’ as well as that of ‘Leader of the Government in the Senate’. If Senator Abetz has something to say about Tasmanian forests, he will surely have the ear of the Prime Minister. What of Greg Hunt, the new Environment Mnister. He must take responsibility for the policy to cut the Carbon Tax. The Liberal’s prime exemplar of casuistry is seen in the following excerpt from their policy which they took to the election:
“Not only is the forest and forest products industry one of Australia’s most significant manufacturing industries, it has a key role in managing and storing CO2:
“forests managed for production provide the greatest ongoing greenhouse gas benefits…
…The potential role of production forestry in mitigating climate change, though substantial, has been largely overlooked in recent Australian climate change policy.” 1 ”
In blog parlance, I believe the appropriate response is … LOL!
Unfortunately Australia has seen a succession of Environment Ministers who when they had to step up to the plate, ‘blew it’. Turnbull and Garrett failed the Environment over the Pulp Mill. Bourke has failed the Environment over the Tarkine. What’s the betting Abetz would have Hunt backbenched within days if he dared to advocate on behalf of our environment?
• Jenny Weber, New Matilda: Tasmanian Libs Will Put Forests To The Torch
• Mark Poynter, Online Opinion: Is there room for science in the Tasmanian World Heritage dispute?