The Liberals forest policy is a recipe to entrench uncertainty over the environmental sustainability of forest management, to destroy Forestry Tasmania’s chances of obtaining Forest Stewardship Council certification, and to lock the taxpayer into ongoing subsidisation of a failed business model,” Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson Kim Booth MP said today.
“Despite the hyperbole from Will Hodgman, Peter Gutwein and Paul Harriss about regrowing the industry, the fact is that their plan has not delivered one more log or one more job.”
“The Liberal legislation is an A-grade failure. It will guarantee that industry’s market access will be damaged, it will guarantee that Forestry Tasmania will not secure FSC, and it will guarantee ongoing division in the community.”
“The Liberals also need to come clean about just how truthful they are being when they claim Forestry Tasmania will cease to receive public subsidies from the 1st of July, in light of Treasurer Gutwein’s failure to answer questions seeking further clarification.”
“While Mr Harriss and Mr Gutwein trumpet the removal of Forestry’s contingency fund they are silent on whether they will rule out Forestry Tasmania being able to borrow money, and refused to answer whether the Treasury letter of comfort previously provided to the GBE will be revoked.”
“Nor would Mr Gutwein rule out transferring assets from any other GBE or state owned company to prop up Forestry Tasmania, or say whether the government intends to forgive any debts carried by Forestry including its unfunded superannuation liability.”
“The community cannot be blamed for interpreting the Treasurer’s refusal to answer these pertinent questions, as confirmation that they are options under consideration.”
“This all points to a repeat of the bankrupted Robin Gray era when Forestry borrowed millions, but the taxpayer ended up paying the debt,” Mr Booth said.
Kim Booth MP | Greens Leader
