Harriss under even more pressure on future of FT

Minister for Resources Paul Harriss must explain whether he still has confidence in the Deputy Chair of his Ministerial Advisory Council on Forestry.

Sue Smith has extraordinarily called for Forestry Tasmania to be dissolved and its assets sold off.

“It is time that the Government made the strong decision to actually dismantle Forestry Tasmania and to actually sell off the total working arm, and the research and development arm of Forestry Tasmania into the private enterprise,”- Sue Smith (ABC Online, 17/6/2015)

Labor Leader Bryan Green said the Minister must immediately explain whether he shares Ms Smith’s views.

“Does Paul Harriss agree that Forestry Tasmania should sell off all its assets and be dismantled?,” Mr Green said.

“Or do the Chair and the Deputy Chair of the Government’s Advisory Council on forestry have diametrically opposed views on the future of FT?

“If it’s the latter, the Minister must explain how the Advisory Council can continue to function with Ms Smith as Deputy Chair.

“Paul Harriss has already confirmed he will sell off the most profitable arm of Forestry Tasmania’s business.

“And all of this comes after the Minister promised Tasmanians and in particular forest workers that he would give FT the resource it needed to trade its way out of difficulty.

“Instead he‘s selling off the plantation resource and sacking workers.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader