Statements
Hodgman restarts battles settled decades ago
The Hodgman Government’s decision to abandon the ban on broad scale land clearing will impact on forests, threatened species, water catchments and Tasmania’s carbon emissions, Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim says.
“This policy sends Tasmania back 20 years, and risks creating an explosion in land clearing rates,” Senator McKim said.
“The current RFA commits the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments to retaining 95% of the 1996 area of native forest. This so-called policy abandons that cap.”
“This is 19th Century policy of dig it up and chop it down with loopholes big enough to drive a convoy of log trucks through.”
“Even Paul Lennon and John Howard didn’t go anywhere near this far.”
“We need stronger land clearing controls, not weaker, to protect our native forests.”
Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim