The Tasmanian Greens today said the Liberal Party’s proposal to crackdown on environmental protesters was a transparent attempt to create political mileage by reopening old wounds over forestry.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP warned that the proposed laws would not only infringe on the rights of environmentalists, but on unions, Aboriginal campaigners and other community groups.
“This announcement shows that the real power in the Liberals is the extremist Senator Eric Abetz, with Will Hodgman his willing puppet,” Mr McKim said.
“This is nothing more than an attempt by the Liberals to create division and reopen the forest wars for their own base political purposes.”
“The Liberals have staked everything on a return to the forest conflict, which ironically is the biggest threat to the industry they claim to support.”
“Senator Abetz’s focus on environmental protests is in fact cover for his long running crusade against the union movement, and against free speech in general.”
“These laws would also affect union, Aboriginal community groups, climate change campaigners and a whole range of other social movements.”
“Mr Hodgman would like everyone to believe in the whole ‘Mr Nice Guy’ public persona, but the reality is he is nothing more than a puppet for extremists like Eric Abetz.”
“The fact there are already trespass and public nuisance laws in place exposes this nasty, divisive proposal for the attack on free speech that it is.”
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader
