Future uncertain for Tas devils and research jobs

The Tasmanian Greens today called for the restoration of funding to the Save the Devil program, and an end to the uncertainty surrounding research jobs at Launceston’s Mount Pleasant Laboratories.

Greens Member for Bass Kim Booth MP called on the Environment Minister Brian Wightman to put greater pressure on his Federal Counterpart to reverse the $4 million funding cut.

“Before the Federal Election, the now Liberal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said he was ‘disappointed’ that Federal Labor had cut funding to the program,” Mr Booth said.

“Mr Hunt said that it was Australia’s ‘duty’ to help the population of Tassie devils recover.”

“It’ is now time for Greg Hunt to take care of this duty, and immediately restore funding to the Save the Devil program.”

“The Tasmanian Environment Minister Brian Wightman also has a duty, which is get in the ear of Mr Hunt and start shouting for the funding to be reinstated.”

“This is not just about the future of the devil, there are also essential scientific research jobs at the Mount Pleasant facility that are possibly in doubt.”

“The Minister needs to make certain that there will be no job cuts at Mount Pleasant as a result of these cuts to the program.”

“The devil is heading down the same track as the Tasmanian tiger and Minister Whitman will stand condemned by future generations if the devil marches on to extinction under his watch,” said Mr Booth.
Kim Booth MP Greens Member for Bass