The Tasmanian Greens today said that the current uncertainty facing Rio Tinto Bell Bay and BHP Billiton TEMCO was a wakeup call about the need to diversify, broaden and modernise Tasmania’s economic base, and to end the state’s over-reliance on undifferentiated commodity exports.
Greens Member for Bass Kim Booth MP said claims being made today that a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley would be a panacea for the region were an irrational response and a cruel hoax on workers who may unfortunately lose their jobs.
“There is no doubt that any big industry closure would be devastating for Georgetown, which is why now is the time to be thinking about new job-creation opportunities for the region, ” Mr Booth said.
“The answer does not lie in a pulp mill, which would not deliver significant jobs and would only further lock the Tasmanian economy into an over-dependence on undifferentiated, bulk commodity exports.”
“The proposed pulp mill would not be able to compete with cheaper pulp from overseas, and would instead rely on public subsidies, an exploited workforce and a succession of bankrupted forest contractors.”
“What the Tasmanian economy needs is structural reform to position itself for a high-value, differentiated, value-added future rather than another mirage from a past industrial age like Gunns’ proposed pulp mill.”
“There are enormous emerging markets for clean, green Tasmanian products in a whole range of industries from blueberries to plantation timbers, and now is the time to be preparing the way for this transition,” Mr Booth said.
Greens Leader Nick McKim says his party will use the 2012 parliamentary year – starting tomorrow – to continue to advocate for Tasmania’s transition to a modern, diversified economy that can meet the new market challenges of the 21st Century. And will push for reforms on political donations laws, container deposit legislation, a $1 bet limit for pokies, and marriage equality.
The Tasmanian Greens today said that the party would use the 2012 parliamentary year to continue to advocate for Tasmania’s transition to a modern, diversified economy that can meet the new market challenges of the 21st Century.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that the Greens would also continue to push for reforms on a wide range of issues including political donations laws, container deposit legislation, a $1 bet limit for pokies, and marriage equality.
“Tasmania is headed in a new economic direction, away from an over-reliance on unsustainable resource-extractive industries, toward a new and diversified economic base that takes advantage our unique products, services and skills.”
“The current challenges facing manufacturing, mining and forestry industry are a clear demonstration of why we need to end our over-reliance on bulk commodities that leave our economy too exposed to global market fluctuations.”
“The forest peace process is just one small aspect of Tasmania’s economic transition, and the Greens aren’t going to be sidetracked by those who are trying to undermine it for political gain.”
“The Greens will be continuing our push for reforms in a range of other areas including $1 bet limits on poker machines, political donations disclosure, container deposit legislation and marriage equality.”
“On poker machine reform, the Greens won’t back down on the need for $1 bet limits to reduce the terrible harm that pokies are having on gambling addicts on their families.”
“On political donations disclosure, we will continue our push for an end to the secrecy surrounding donations to political parties.”
“On marriage equality, if the Federal Government fails to deliver reform, we will be stepping up our push for Tasmania to become the first state to end legal discrimination against same sex couples.”
“And on container deposit legislation, the Greens will continue to push for Labor to take genuine action at the state level to reduce the amount of container waste littering our environment.”
