Bryan Green: Forestry Tasmania loss highlights Liberals have no answers

A reported loss of well over $40 million by Forestry Tasmania highlights the challenges facing the forest industry and that the Liberal Government’s hollow promises are not the answer.

“The future for Forestry Tasmania is looking less certain by the day under the Liberals,” Mr Green said.

“The Liberals have done absolutely nothing to secure the viability of Forestry Tasmania and are still in denial over the causes of the decade-long downturn in the sector.

“For Paul Harris to suggest the land available for forestry is the problem is a bare-faced lie.

“In fact, Paul Harris introduced and had passed new legislation which did not change the land area available to Forestry Tasmania.

“The reality is that since coming to office the Government has not provided a single extra stick for the forest industry.

“The Government is still riding on the coat tails of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement which provided support and generated investment in the industry.

“Labor’s steadfast support for the forest industry cannot be questioned.

“Mr Harris’ pathetic attempt to rewrite history only highlights his failure to come to grips with the issues confronting forestry.

“Mr Harris’ engages in all sorts of colourful rhetoric but that only disguises the fact he has done precious little to put Forestry Tasmania or the wider industry on a sustainable footing.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader