Environment groups have issued a last minute plea to the Legislative Council not to shred an agreement between environment groups, the forestry industry and unions designed to protect forests, protect jobs and resolve the conflict over forestry in Tasmania.
The Legislative Council are currently deliberating over the State Liberal government’s proposal to “rip up” the forests peace agreement and open pristine rainforest reserves and other ancient forests to logging.
“The peace agreement between environment groups, the forestry industry and unions was painstakingly negotiated over 3 years, and has cost taxpayers more than $200 million to implement,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, spokesperson for Environment Tasmania, “It protects some of Tasmania’s most outstanding wild places and protects jobs in the forestry industry. Shredding this agreement, as proposed by the Liberal government, will cost jobs in the forestry industry and put at risk some of Tasmania’s most treasured natural icons,” he continued, “We are urging the Legislative Council not to play into the old divisive politics that the Liberal government are running, and not to shred this sensible compromise agreement,”
“The fundamental drivers for the agreement – public desire for forests protection, market desire for plantation timber and non-controversial wood, and the need for the industry to restructure so it isn’t based on subsidies, remain unchanged,”
Disappointment at FIAT position
Environment Tasmania has also expressed disappointment at the position of FIAT, one of the signatories of the peace agreement, in support for the Liberal government’s legislation to “rip up” the peace agreement, “The conservation reserves are a core component of the agreement signed by industry and environment groups, and so it is deeply disappointing that one of the industry signatories has expressed support for Legislation which seeks not to honour the agreed conservation outcomes,”
Dr Phill Pullinger, spokesperson for Environment Tasmania
