The Hodgman Liberal Government is absolutely committed to reducing the risk of bushfires to Tasmanians.
It is disappointing the Australian Workers Union is trying to scaremonger and suggest changes to Forestry Tasmania will compromise Tasmanians’ safety.
Let’s put some perspective on this. Under the Labor-Green Government, Forestry Tasmania shed more than 200 staff between 2010 and 2014, and 2 out of every 3 forestry jobs were lost in the five years to 2014, along with the equipment used by contractors.
Where were the unions during this? Nowhere – they were silent and abandoned the industry along with Labor.
We will always take a whole-of-Government and whole-of-industry approach to ensure there are sufficient firefighting resources.
Our Fuel Reduction Unit has burned through almost 28,500 hectares this financial year alone, with total burns amounting to more than 37,000 hectares. In contrast, last financial year before our election commitment came into effect, just 17,800 hectares of fuel reduction burns were undertaken.
Bryan Green has once again confirmed today1 his only plan is to keep subsidising Forestry Tasmania but won’t say where he’ll make the cuts to find the funding.
In stark contrast, we have a Plan to put Forestry Tasmania and the broader industry onto a pathway to sustainability so it can stand on its own two feet and grow into the future.
1Leon Compton program, ABC 936 12/5/15
Paul Harriss, Minister for Resources
