Vica Bayley Wilderness Society MR
“Mr Garrett is turning a blind eye to the destruction of the habitat of endangered species such as the Swift Parrot. He is overseeing the release of millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution from the relentless logging of our native forests. And he is snubbing his nose at the conservation community by refusing to protect forest areas recognised for their World Heritage value,”
Logging has just begun in the carbon rich forests of coupe FO42E in the Upper Florentine, forests the World Heritage Committee encouraged The Australian Government to protect in line with the advice from the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). Also, a day after the release of the international ‘red list’ of endangered species, the critical breeding and feeding habitat of the Swift Parrot remains subject to clear-fell and burn logging plans.
MEDIA RELEASE – 8th October 2008
GARRETT OVERSEES ASSAULT ON TASMANIAN ENVIRONMENT
Environment Minister Peter Garrett appears keen to blame policy failures and bad environmental outcomes on the previous Government, but is reluctant to address his own failures to reform government environment policy, according to The Wilderness Society.
Yesterday, Minister Garrett acknowledged policy failures of the past and stated that ‘despite repeated warnings of the growing threats to our native animals the former government went missing…”
Yet the Minister flies in to Hobart today on official business, ignoring a plethora of Tasmanian environmental issues that require his urgent attention.
“Mr Garrett is turning a blind eye to the destruction of the habitat of endangered species such as the Swift Parrot. He is overseeing the release of millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution from the relentless logging of our native forests. And he is snubbing his nose at the conservation community by refusing to protect forest areas recognised for their World Heritage value,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society.
Logging has just begun in the carbon rich forests of coupe FO42E in the Upper Florentine, forests the World Heritage Committee encouraged The Australian Government to protect in line with the advice from the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature).
Also, a day after the release of the international ‘red list’ of endangered species, the critical breeding and feeding habitat of the Swift Parrot remains subject to clear-fell and burn logging plans.
“Mr Garrett has both the ability and responsibility to act. It is urgent that he stop logging in these forests of global significance,’
The Wilderness Society also noted Mr Garrett’s support for allowing Gunns the chance to appeal against the public release of a CSIRO report that is critical of the 30 billion liter annual effluent discharge of the proposed pulp mill.
“Many Tasmanians are outraged that Mr Garrett is prepared to give Gunns the chance to block the release of a taxpayer funded scientific report into the effluent discharge of the pulp mill,” continued Mr Bayley. “The release of this report is in the public interest and should not be delayed.”
“It is time for the Environment Minister to act on behalf of the environment. His inaction means the environmentally destructive policies of the past are continuing unabated today. Urgent policy reform is needed now.”
Further information: Vica Bayley 0400 644 939, (03) 6224 1550
Vica Bayley
Senior Forest Campaigner
The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
Website: www.wilderness.org.au
