The credibility of Resources Minister Paul Harriss is in absolute tatters.
Labor Leader Bryan Green said the Minister is in denial if he expects people to believe that he has repaired deep divisions within his ministerial advisory council on forestry.
“No one believes Sue Smith has miraculously changed her mind about winding up Forestry Tasmania,” Mr Green said.
“Mrs Smith made her comments about the future of Forestry Tasmania calmly and deliberately. It’s simply not possible that she would now have a different opinion in the space of 48 hours.
“Paul Harriss might want this to be the end of the matter, but his authority as Minister has been fatally wounded.
“He may have tried to gag Sue Smith and other members of his advisory council but the cat is well and truly out of the bag.
“The fact that Sue Smith was not allowed to face the media this afternoon is very telling indeed.
“Meanwhile staff at Forestry Tasmania are left in limbo, knowing the Minister’s senior advisor wants their workplace shut down and sold off.
“While Paul Harriss’ ‘nothing to see here’ performance this afternoon was laughable, there’s nothing funny about the way he’s treating workers at FT.
“After promising to protect their jobs he’s taking the axe to around 100 positions and selling off assets.
“It would appear Paul Harriss has a very limited future as Tasmania’s Resources Minister.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader
