www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the release of the Innovation Strategy for Tasmania, prepared by Professor Jonathan West from the Australian Innovation Research Centre (AIRC), saying that it will stimulate a much needed debate about Tasmania’s long term economic direction.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that for Tasmania to have a sustainable and prosperous economic future it is essential to unite our people around a common vision.
Mr McKim also said that the Greens would make a more detailed response to the Innovation Strategy for Tasmania following further detailed deliberation.
“While the Greens do not necessarily agree with all of Professor West’s views, this report is a significant contribution to an essential public conversation around Tasmania’s future direction, and I look forward to participating in the genuine debate of ideas which I hope will follow,” Mr McKim said.
“The Greens are pleased to note that Professor West believes that any consideration of major water infrastructure projects for Tasmania would have to be conducted within an independent assessment process in which all Tasmanians can have confidence.”
“The real test is going to be how the government progresses some of its irrigation proposals, and let’s face it, project implementation and uniting Tasmanians are not Mr Bartlett’s strong points.”
“For Tasmania to maximise its opportunities we have to move beyond the divisive debates around resource extraction, which is why I have met with both Forestry Tasmania and the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT) since I became Greens Leader, and why it is so disappointing that the David Bartlett is yet to meet with Environment Tasmania or the Wilderness Society since he became Premier.”
“While we still have proposals like the Tarkine road, and the government deliberately targeting high conservation value forests for destruction, our people will remain divided, and our capacity to become a global sustainability leader will be compromised.”
Mr McKim repeated his views that the global sustainability crisis would provide significant opportunities for places like Tasmania, which have the attributes necessary to be leaders in a carbon constrained global economy.”
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader
