NGOs: Hodgman must embrace Tasmanian forest agreement to secure industry

The Tasmanian Government’s bill to repeal the Tasmanian Forest Agreement Act will only dramatically increase the uncertainty in the forestry industry, environment groups said after the bill was released today.

The environment group signatories of the forest agreement have urged Premier Will Hodgman to drop the bill and back the agreement that is clearly already delivering certainty for the industry and conservation outcomes, rather than rushing legislation to overturn the agreement for the purpose of ideology and politics.

“Tasmanians love their natural environment and want it protected. It is possible to protect our most outstanding forests, and have a forestry industry that Tasmanians can be proud of,” said Charlie Sherwin, spokesperson for Environment Tasmania.

“We urge the Tasmanian government to give the forests peace agreement a chance to work, not take Tasmania back to the old, failed forestry policies of the past.”

“It is unfortunate the Tasmanian Government’s bill raises more questions than it answers. The forests agreement was predicated on security for wood supply, conservation, markets, and workers,” said Jess Abrahams, spokesperson for the Australian Conservation Foundation.

“This new proposal casts a cloud over conservation outcomes, FSC certification and the market confidence that has clearly stabilised the industry and provided a climate for future growth. Proposals such as opening up existing national parks and reserves for logging if they are removed from the World Heritage list will clearly cause concern to customers and for FSC certification.”

“The Tasmanian Government has publically recognised the importance of secure wood supplies that are viewed as ‘non- controversial’ by customers,” said Warrick Jordan, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society.

“Unfortunately, the proposed legislation removes the complimentary secure, permanent protection for forests that was agreed under the TFA.”

“It is this protection that enables groups like The Wilderness Society to support the forestry industry in the market-place, and support FSC certification in Tasmania. If the Tasmanian government tears up the reserves that underpin the agreement, then that would take away the capacity for signatory environment groups to provide support in the market-place.”
Charlie Sherwin, Environment Tasmania, Warrick Jordan, The Wilderness Society, Josh Meadows, Australian Conservation Foundation