Media release – The Wilderness Society, 7 November 2022
MLCs Urged To Ensure Tasmanian Government’s World Heritage Commitments Are Kept
The Wilderness Society has written to the Legislative Council, the Upper House of the Tasmanian Parliament, urging its members to ensure that the promises made by the State Government to the international community and World Heritage Committee are kept.
In the letter sent to every Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), the Wilderness Society detailed the commitments made by Commonwealth and State governments and the significant benefits for the wider community that could come through honouring these commitments.
“We see this as an important role for Tasmania’s house of review to ensure the State’s word is kept,” said Tom Allen for the Wilderness Society.
“The risk is that we are seen to say the right thing to the international community and World Heritage committee but then fail this test of international environmental leadership when it really counts.
“The fact is that, by honouring our word, it could lead to the historic creation of a new Aborignal owned, run and managed national park, with all the managerial and employment opportunities that could bring, as well high-quality conservation gains and the creation of an alluring new tourism destination – in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the planet’s highest ranked World Heritage wilderness.
“We hope that members of the Upper House recognise the clear and multiple benefits to the wider community of following through on our commitments, not to mention fulfilling our obligations World Heritage custodians are expected to discharge,” said Mr Allen.
Featured image above: Tom Allen pictured at Central Plateau, within proposed Kooparoona Niara (Great Western Tiers) National Park.
