Hodgman’s forest plan fails forests and timber industry

The passage of the Hodgman Government’s legislation to repeal the historic Tasmanian Forest Agreement Act marks a low point for Tasmania’s spectacular forests, the timber industry and the state’s economy, environment groups said.

“This legislation is a dog’s breakfast that removes formal protection from hundreds of thousands of hectares of forests agreed under the TFA, casts a pall of uncertainty over the future of the entire timber industry and risks the achievement of top flight FSC forestry certification,” said The Wilderness Society spokesperson Warrick Jordan.

“With the passage of this new law the Government has chosen to play Russian roulette with the industry’s future, and this government will be judged on the environmental damage and industry failure that will result from this legislation,” said Mr Jordan.

“This regressive legislation unwinds protection for vast areas of magnificent forests, such as the Blue Tier, Tarkine, Bruny Island and Wielangta, and opens a loophole to enable decades old conservation areas and iconic forests to rainforest logging,” said Environment Tasmania spokesperson Dr Phill Pullinger.

“At the time the Government was elected, Tasmania had a clear and agreed road map for our forests built on shared objectives between industry, workers and the environment. The government’s hollow victory in trashing the legislation that delivered on the historic peace agreement is a sad day for Tassie, and represents a triumph of base politics over good policy and historic cooperation between environment, industry and unions,” said Dr Pullinger.

“The government’s decision to axe 400,000 hectares of new reserves and allow rainforest logging in 800,000 hectares of existing reserves jeopardises the timber markets the TFA supported and was actively rebuilding,” said Jess Abrahams, Australian Conservation Foundation spokesperson.

“Buyers of Tasmanian wood want guarantees the timber industry is sustainable and has widespread community support. This Act demolishes the legal framework that provided that sustainability and support.”
Phill Pullinger, Environment Tasmania, Warrick Jordan, The Wilderness Society, Josh Meadows (Media contact), Australian Conservation Foundation