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We need to end the destructive practices at the heart of the climate and biodiversity emergency. Native forest logging has never been sustainable, but the climate crisis demands a plan to put an end to it once and for all.

When the Greens were in government, 356,000 hectares of carbon-rich, high conservation value forests were afforded protection. They will lose their protected status on April 8, 2020.

In a climate and biodiversity emergency, even the consideration of handing over these forests to the logging industry is unconscionable. Actually doing so would be a betrayal of young people today, and all future generations.

The first step is to ensure the permanent protection of 356,000 hectares of carbon-rich, high conservation value forests that will lose their protected status on April 8, 2020. Our future can still be a safe and sustainable one, but not if we continue business as usual. We must take action now.

 

What Can I Do?

You can contact the Minister for Resources, Guy Barnett, and demand the Government permanently protect the 356,000 hectares of high conservation value forest.

Attend the Greens and Queens: Drag Queen quiz night (Friday, 21 February 2020 - 6:30pm at Kickstart Arts next door to the St Johns Cathedral , St Johns Avenue, New Town)

Sign the petition on Save Tassie's Forests – For Our Climate (closes Friday, 4 December 2020 - 4:45pm).

 

In Parliament and the Media

Media Release

Monday, 16 December 2019

Liberals' Secret High Conservation Value Logging Talks Revealed

Cassy O'Connor MP - Right to Information documents released to the Greens reveal the forest industry have been in secret talks with the Liberals to open up 356,000ha of high conservation, carbon bank forests set aside for protection under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement.



Estimate

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

2019 Government Businesses Scrutiny Committee - TasRail

Cassy O'Connor MP - Full transcript of the Tasmanian Railways Pty Ltd hearings in the 2019 Government Businesses Scrutiny Committee.



Media Release

Thursday, 5 December 2019

FSC Failures Confirm Native Forest Logging is Unsustainable

Cassy O'Connor MP - Revelations Sustainable Timber Tasmania, or Suss Timber, have failed to pass their FSC audit – yet again – is another reminder that native forest logging in Tasmania is not sustainable.



Speech

Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Greens Motion - Logging in Tasmanian Forest Agreement Second Tranche Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP - Cassy O'Connor moves a motion to protect the 356 000 hectares of Tasmanian Forest Agreement second tranche reserve forests.



Media Release

Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Labor and the Liberals United in Carbon Bank Destruction

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Liberals, Labor and Clark MP, Madeleine Ogilvie, voted to allow logging the 365,000 hectares of high conservation value, carbon sink forests - set aside under the TFA - from April next year.



Speech

Thursday, 17 October 2019

Adjournment - Climate Action Protests

Rosalie Woodruff MP - Rosalie Woodruff speaks in support of 16 climate protesters who were peacefully protesting outside Parliament House, and who have been arrested by the Tasmanian Police.



Speech

Tuesday, 15 October 2019

Labor Matter of Public Importance - Budget Cuts and Budget Mismanagement

Cassy O'Connor MP - Cassy responds to the Treasurer during Labor's 'Budget Cuts and Budget Mismanagement' Matter of Public Importance.



Speech

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Adjournment - Climate Emergency, Actions by Government and Opposition

Cassy O'Connor MP -

 



Motion

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Motion without Notice - Censure

Cassy O'Connor MP - Cassy O'Connor moves a censure motion in all Liberal and Labor members for failing to support a Climate Emergency declaration.



Question

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Climate Action, Logging of Forests

Rosalie Woodruff MP - Rosalie Woodruff questions the government over their failure to secure FSC certification.



Question

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Forestry Tasmania FSC Certification

Cassy O'Connor MP - Cassy O'Connor asks the Minister to confirm that the latest Forest Stewardship Council audit has resulted in failure to secure FSC certification.



Media Release

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Labor and Liberal Climate Inaction Unity Ticket

Cassy O'Connor MP - Labor and the Liberals voted together, yet again, to let down young Tasmanians. After last night uniting to vote against the Greens' motion to support the climate strike movement, today they refused to take responsibility.



Media Release

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Sustainable Timbers Tasmania Fails to Secure FSC, Again

Cassy O'Connor MP - Forest Stewardship Council auditors delivered their assessment report to ‘Sustainable Timbers Tasmania’ on the last Friday in May this year, four months ago.



Question

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Logging in High Conservation Value Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP - Cassy O'Connor questions the Minister over the requests of the Forest Industries Association in a recent meeting.



Question

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Logging in High Conservation Value Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP -

 

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN



Media Release

Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Hodgman Liberals Set to Log Carbon Bank Forests in Climate Emergency

Cassy O'Connor MP - Following their failure to stand with young Tasmanians striking for a safe climate last Friday, the Premier and his Resources Minister today dealt young people another slap in the face with confirmation 356 000 hectares of carbon-dense forests will be opened to logging in April next year.



Media Release

Saturday, 21 September 2019

2019 State Conference Keynote Address

Cassy O'Connor MP - Cassy O'Connor delivers a keynote address to the Tasmanian Greens' 2019 State Conference, discussing key Greens issues and the Green New Deal.



Media Release

Saturday, 14 September 2019

Leaked Polling Proves No Social Licence for Native Forest Logging

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Hodgman Liberals remain committed to logging 356,000 hectares of high conservation value forests that were set aside for protection under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement.



Motion

Wednesday, 4 September 2019

Liberal Motion - Growth Plan for Tasmanian Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR (Clark - Leader of the Greens) - Madam Speaker, if you want a clear indication of how far Labor has fallen, that speech, delivered by so-called Dr Broad, a scientist allegedly, tells us everything we need to know -

Dr BROAD - Point of order, Madam Speaker. I draw offence to the word 'allegedly'.



Media Release

Tuesday, 3 September 2019

Leatherwood Forests Must be Protected

Cassy O'Connor MP - Last summer’s bushfires burned large tracts of native forest, including the leatherwood trees so critical to the honey industry.



Media Release

Sunday, 1 September 2019

Labor Leadership Failure

Cassy O'Connor MP - In a time of climate emergency and growing social inequality, political parties need to work together to advance the public interest. Instead, Labor Leader, Rebecca White, is playing silly political games while the planet burns.



Media Release

Tuesday, 25 June 2019

National Spotlight on Tasmania's Swift Parrot Shame

Rosalie Woodruff MP - The Hodgman Government’s refusal to protect the swift parrot was front and centre on the national stage during last night’s Four Corners program. Bird experts confirmed, once again, that habitat destruction is increasing the risk of extinction for the swift parrot.



Speech

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

Estimates Reply - Minister Courtney

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR - I rise to speak on the Estimates for the Minister for Resources with specific reference to the forestry portfolio because Dr Woodruff was at the table and did a great job scrutinising this minister's maladministration of the minerals part of her portfolio.



Speech

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

Estimates Reply - Attorney-General

Rosalie Woodruff MP -

Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin) - Madam Deputy Chair, I have a whole new line of commentary to make about the Estimates that showed, in another form, how much this minister refused to answer some significant questions within her responsibility as the Minister for the Environment; the minister responsible, sadly, for protecting the 700 threatened and endangered species on this island and responsible for undertaking all the duties to do with this important portfolio.



Media Release

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

Greens Condemn Sumac Forest Attack

Rosalie Woodruff MP - The Greens condemn the attack on the Sumac Forest protest camp in takayna/Tarkine. The kind of violence and intimidation displayed overnight is unacceptable.



Speech

Thursday, 2 May 2019

Forest Practices Amendment Bill 2018 - Second Reading

Rosalie Woodruff MP -

Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin) - Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak on this bill. We will go into Committee because we have a few things we would like to talk about, the specifics of a number of clauses toward the make-up of the tribunal and some others. We have no problems in principle with including the expertise on the forest practices on the tribunal and the advisory council.



Speech

Thursday, 2 May 2019

Liberal Matter of Public Importance - Jobs and the Economy

Rosalie Woodruff MP -

Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin) - Madam Deputy Speaker, I am very pleased to speak to this matter. I will take up the first point Mr Tucker made. He mentioned the forestry industry. It would be good to know, formally today, Labor's position on whether they are running away from the historic Tasmanian Forestry Agreement. Mr Bacon gave a tacit agreement to that but he is now leaving the Chamber.



Media Release

Friday, 22 March 2019

Patriarch and Sons Not Welcome in Tasmania

Cassy O'Connor MP - The arrival of Patriarch and Sons in Tasmania’s forests and on the banks of the Tamar is another sign the Hodgman Liberals don’t care where the money is coming from, as long as it comes.



Speech

Wednesday, 20 March 2019

Adjournment - Effect of Bushfires on the Honey industry

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR (Clark - Leader of the Greens) - Mr Deputy Speaker, I echo what the minister has passed on in terms of this parliament's gratitude and certainly the Tasmanian Greens gratitude to everyone who took part in responding to the fires, to our Parks and Wildlife Service firies, to the TFS firefighters and to the Forestry Tasmania firefighters.



Media Release

Monday, 4 March 2019

Minister Needs To Formally Rule Out Southern Port

Rosalie Woodruff MP - The long-awaited southern wood residues advice from Evan Rolley, released today after a five month delay, finds a southern port would be commercially unviable, and the only possible site south of Port Esperance and north of Southport would have challenging ”environmental and social factors”.



Question

Wednesday, 21 November 2018

Patriarch and Sons - Logging Practices

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Ms COURTNEY

Just days after you took over the portfolio, it was revealed Patriarch and Sons, a company with clear links to environmental vandals, Shin Yang, were planning to begin logging native forest in Tasmania and establish a processing facility in the Tamar Valley.

Mr Hodgman - More racism, isn't it?

Ms O'CONNOR - What?

Mr O'Byrne - He called you a racist.



Media Release

Thursday, 27 September 2018

Majestic Timbers Crumbles Without Freight Subsidy

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Greens have received information to suggest the company that was Majestic Timbers is no longer operational.



Question

Thursday, 27 September 2018

Majestic Timbers - Operations

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT



Question

Wednesday, 26 September 2018

Tasmanian Devil - Threat to Habitat

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT, Ms ARCHER



Media Release

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Barnett’s Forestry Delusions

Cassy O'Connor MP - Forestry Minister, Guy Barnett’s claim that thousands of jobs would be lost under the Greens’ policy to end native forest logging is, unsurprisingly, completely untrue.  



Speech

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Matter of Public Importance - Forestry and Mining Jobs in North-West Tasmania

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR (Denison - Leader of the Greens) – Mr Deputy Speaker, Mr Brooks, as the member for Braddon, does his community a terrible disservice because he recycles the same speech over and over again. This morning in the office when the question went out what do you reckon the matter of public importance debate is, we all knew it would be Mr Brooks talking about jobs on the north-west coast. It is the only narrative that he has to offer.



Speech

Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Christine Milne AO - Tribute

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR (Denison - Leader of the Greens) - Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the awarding of an Order of Australia medal to Christine Milne, former Tasmanian Greens Leader, Australian Greens Leader, Senator for Tasmania.



Media Release

Tuesday, 5 June 2018

Hodgman Liberals Biggest Threat to Tasmania on World Environment Day

Cassy O'Connor MP - Earlier this week, millions of Australians tuned in to see Sir David Attenborough’s documentary on Tasmania’s unique wilderness areas and threatened species. These are the same areas and species that are under direct threat from the Hodgman Government.



Media Release

Thursday, 3 May 2018

Courtney Must Withhold Land Consent for Woodchip Port Until After Council Elections

Rosalie Woodruff MP - The Minister responsible for Tasmania’s Crown Lands, Sarah Courtney, today confirmed landowner’s consent was being considered by her government for the southern woodchip port. 



Media Release

Friday, 27 April 2018

Liberals Claim Credit for Tasmanian Forest Agreement Emissions Reduction

Cassy O'Connor MP - The breathtaking hypocrisy of the Liberals talking up Tasmania's lower emissions profile cannot go unanswered.



Media Release

Thursday, 29 March 2018

Time for Transparency and Change in Forestry

Cassy O'Connor MP - A damning analysis of the Regional Forest Agreement in today’s The Guardian newspaper is an indictment on both State and Federal Governments.



Media Release

Monday, 20 November 2017

Barnett’s Forestry Jobs Dishonesty

Cassy O'Connor MP - In the wake of ABS census data confirming a massive decline in forestry sector employment under the Liberals, the Hodgman Government seems to be fudging the numbers.



Media Release

Monday, 13 November 2017

Liberals’ Forestry Agenda Putting Swift Parrot on the Chopping Block

Andrea Dawkins - In their ideologically-driven rush to log the State’s native forests, the Liberals are destroying the habitat of the endangered Swift parrot.



Media Release

Friday, 3 November 2017

Government Subsidies and Forestry Spin Continue Under Liberals

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Liberals' promise to end the subsidies to Forestry Tasmania has again been exposed as a lie, with the GBE's annual report revealing taxpayers subsidised a $27 million operational loss.



Speech

Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Pulp Mill Assessment Repeal Bill 2017

Andrea Dawkins - Andrea Dawkins delivers a second reading speech for the Greens' Pulp Mill Assessment Repeal Bill 2017, discussing the history of the mill and the Act.



Media Release

Thursday, 2 November 2017

Barnett's Failure to Deliver

Cassy O'Connor MP - The latest Forestry Tasmania - now fraudulently named Sustainable Timber Tasmania - Annual Report demonstrates the continued failure of the Liberals’ stated commitment to move the business onto a sustainable footing.



Media Release

Thursday, 19 October 2017

Liberals' Destructive Rainforest Logging Plan Takes Effect

Cassy O'Connor MP - The so-called Special Timbers Management Plan permits logging in regional reserves and conservation areas.  It is designed to generate conflict, all of it backed in by the Labor (so-called) Opposition.



Question

Wednesday, 18 October 2017

Workplace (Protection from Protestors) Act - High Court Challenge

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN

In a massive slap in the face to your Government, the High Court has just ruled in favour of former Greens leader Bob Brown's challenge to your Government's draconian antiprotest laws. The High Court has determined that your Government's Workplace (Protection from Protestors) Act violates the implied freedom of political communication in the Constitution. Your efforts to silence dissent and peaceful protest in Tasmania are in breach of the Constitution.



Media Release

Monday, 9 October 2017

Revitalised Brand Tasmania Needs to Promote Brand Integrity

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Premier's announced move to transform Brand Tasmania in to a separate statutory authority is a positive, but without a commitment from both the old parties to protecting the brand's integrity, it will only be window dressing.



Question

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Forestry - Sale of State's Planation Assets

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN

[10.53 a.m.]

You promised Tasmanians you would not sell off their assets.  You also told them yours would be an open and transparent government.  Can you explain why the company your Government sold the 29 000 hectares to did not register with ASIC until two months after final bids for the plantation were due?  In the interests of transparency will you now release all details of your Government's role in the privatisation of 29 000 hectares of public land?

 

ANSWER



Question

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Privatisation of Public Plantations

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN



Question

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Forestry - Sale of Plantation Assets

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN

[10.08 a.m.]

Shortly after coming to office in April 2014 you stated publicly:

Let me be clear:  we will not be selling any Government or public owned assets other than the Aurora retail book which the former government put up for sale and which we have supported. 

Other than that, we will not be selling anything and that is part of the commitment we took to the last election.



Question

Thursday, 14 September 2017

Forestry - Sale of State's Plantation Assets

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT

Now it has been confirmed that you are flogging 29 000 hectares of Tasmania's public plantation estate at a loss, and effectively sold all that land through a 99-year lease -

Members interjecting.

Ms O'CONNOR - Who will be here in 99 years?

Madam SPEAKER - Order.  The member will ask her question.



Speech

Thursday, 14 September 2017

Sale of State's Plantation Assets

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT

You have announced that 29 000 hectares of publicly owned plantation has been sold to a private company for $60 million.  In a 2012 letter, the Auditor-General confirmed it costs around $350 000 per hectare in public funding to establish Forestry Tasmania's plantations.  This put the actual cost of establishing the public plantations you are flogging at a conservative estimate of $101 million.  On the evidence, Tasmanian taxpayers have been ripped off to the tune of $40 million.



Question

Wednesday, 13 September 2017

Mr Lennon and Mr Gay - Alleged Meetings with Government

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN



Media Release

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Premier Can't Explain How Plantation Sale isn't Privatisation

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Premier has been exposed for misleading the Tasmanian people when he said in April 2014 that his government would not be privatizing public assets.



Media Release

Thursday, 14 September 2017

Liberals Rip Off Tasmanians Over Public Plantation Sale

Cassy O'Connor MP - As the owners of public forests and land, Tasmanians are being robbed blind by the Liberals who have privatised 29 000 hectares of public hardwood plantations for $40 million less than taxpayers paid to establish them.



Media Release

Wednesday, 13 September 2017

Greens Table Pulp Mill Assessment Repeal Bill

Andrea Dawkins - I was proud to table the Pulp Mill Assessment Repeal Bill 2017 in Parliament today on behalf of the Greens. If supported, this Bill would provide real closure for Northern Tasmanians.



Media Release

Friday, 25 August 2017

Liberals' Rainforest Logging Plan to Open Up Reserves

Cassy O'Connor MP - The rainforest logging plan put forward by the Liberals is a disgrace. Introducing logging into reserves and conservation areas is a destructive move, designed to generate conflict.



Media Release

Wednesday, 2 August 2017

Destruction and Waste Define Liberals’ Forest Policy

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests spokesperson 

The Wilderness Society's (TWS) analysis of the Draft rainforest logging plan reaffirms the rampant anti-environmentalism of the Hodgman Liberals. 

Given the history of enormous waste of sawlog quality and rainforest timber in the industrial wood chipping era, the TWS finding - that 6 out of 10 rainforest trees would be wasted under the Liberal plan - rings true.



Media Release

Friday, 28 July 2017

Liberals’ Orwellian Forestry Tasmania Restructure Continues Subsidies

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Liberals’ restructure of Forestry Tasmania has simply forced the GBE to sell its only potential profit making assets - the plantations - and moved the subsidies around to conceal the true extent of ongoing public funding for this industry.



Media Release

Thursday, 22 June 2017

Two Year Reprieve for Threatened Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP - 356 000 hectares of the most beautiful, carbon rich forests on the planet have won a temporary reprieve from the Liberals' destructive, divisive logging plan.



Media Release

Thursday, 15 June 2017

Liberal Lies over Forest Industry Subsidies

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Liberals came to government promising to ‘end the subsidies’ to the native forest logging industry but they are prepared to massively subsidise Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) move from Victoria.



Media Release

Wednesday, 7 June 2017

Forest-Destroying Minister Confirms Land Clearing Bonanza

Cassy O'Connor MP - In Budget Estimates today Resources Minister, Guy Barnett, confirmed he is unleashing a land clearing bonanza on Tasmania’s public and private land.



Media Release

Thursday, 1 June 2017

Liberals’ Forestry Mandate Climate Change Irony

-

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens' Leader

On the same day the Hodgman Government released its so-called Climate Action plan, they are threatening to take Tasmania to the polls over their divisive plan to log carbon-rich forests.  

The irony of that won’t be lost on anyone who believes in action on climate.

In the report into the review of the Climate Change (State Action) Act, consultants acknowledge Tasmania’s emissions profile will be affected by political decisions that are made in relation to forestry and future logging.



Media Release

Thursday, 1 June 2017

Groom's Climate Action 21 “Plan” A Tragic Farce

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Climate Change spokesperson

Three years after taking office and abolishing the climate portfolio as well as the independent Climate Action Council, the Hodgman Government has released a woefully weak climate inaction plan.

The centrepiece of this plan is a meaningless, unlegislated 'aspirational' 2050 emissions' reduction target and a commitment to 'undertake a report' that 'assesses approaches' to an electric vehicle charging rollout.

No wonder Matthew Groom let this stinker of a plan sit on his desk for months.



Media Release

Monday, 1 May 2017

Forestry Burns Threaten Public Health

-

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens' Health spokesperson 

Over the weekend in communities across the State, and specifically at New Norfolk, Judbury, Cygnet and Huonville, residents were subjected to thick choking smoke from Forestry Tasmania burns.

This is a serious health concern, as particulate pollution is a known risk to people with respiratory and cardiac conditions, elderly people and children.



Question

Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Tarkine Forestry Regeneration Burn

-

 



Question

Thursday, 16 March 2017

Forestry Bill - No Market for HCV Forest Products

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT

In a public statement yesterday, head of the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania, Terry Edwards, stated in relation to his members:

What is very clear to us is that they will not accept wood from these contentious forests.



Question

Wednesday, 15 March 2017

Forest Industries Association of Tasmania's Objections to the Forestry Bill

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT



Question

Tuesday, 14 March 2017

Forestry Bill - Potential Logging at Derby

-

Ms DAWKINS question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN



Question

Tuesday, 14 March 2017

Forestry Bill - Threat to Tourism

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN



Question

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

Hodgman Government's Environmental Record

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN
[10.22 a.m.]

Can you understand why an increasing number of Tasmanians believe your Government has declared war on the environment and Tasmanians determined to protect it? Is picking fights and ignoring community concerns over high conservation value forests, fish farm expansions, development in wilderness areas and the cable car, to name a few, the core of your election strategy?



Media Release

Saturday, 15 April 2017

Liberals Cynically Delay Two Controversial Bills Hoping MLC Mix Will Change

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens' Leader

Facing a storm of stakeholder and community condemnation and defeat in the Legislative Council, the Hodgman Liberals have cynically delayed debate on two divisive, contentious pieces of legislation until after the 3 May Legislative Council election.

There isn't much that's transparent about the Liberals, but we can see straight through this attempt to see if a shift in the balance in the Upper House will tip the vote on high conservation value logging and weakening the anti-discrimination Act in their favour.



Media Release

Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Barnett Dismisses Escaped Tarkine Burn

-

Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens' Environment spokesperson

The Minister for Resources did not answer the Greens' questions about the escaped Tarkine regeneration burn in Parliament today.

It's clear he was either refusing to answer the question, or he was unaware of the fire. Either way, this is a dangerous attitude towards fire in our wilderness.



Media Release

Friday, 31 March 2017

Liberals’ Derby Hypocrisy

- The Greens are strong supporters of the World Enduro Series, and the thriving mountain bike industry in and around Derby, set up with grants from the now-torn up Tasmanian Forest Agreement.



Media Release

Thursday, 30 March 2017

Log Trucks on Tasmanian Roads

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests spokesperson

Resources Minister, Guy Barnett, is either misleading or in denial over the evidence that an increased number of log trucks on Tasmanian roads will lead to an increase in serious accidents and fatalities. 

Mr Barnett has chosen today to highlight comments I made in Parliament two weeks ago to try to distract from the Treasurer's appearance before the Public Accounts Committee.



Media Release

Thursday, 23 March 2017

Liberals' Forestry Jobs Failure

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests spokesperson

The latest ABS detailed labour force statistics have been released today.

The data confirms that there has been no job growth in Forestry and Wood Product manufacturing in Tasmania under the Hodgman Liberal Government.

In February 2014, before the Liberals entered office, there were 3,700 jobs in these sectors, exactly the same as February 2017.

There are, however, 600 employees working part time instead of full time.



Media Release

Friday, 17 March 2017

Gagged Liberals' Forest Bill a Recipe for Corruption

Cassy O'Connor MP - In a clear signal they are afraid of Parliamentary scrutiny, the Liberals' gagged debate on their destructive and divisive high conservation value forest logging legislation in the early hours of this morning.



Media Release

Tuesday, 14 March 2017

Liberals' Forest Farce

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests spokesperson

Legislation to allow logging in some of the most high conservation value, carbon rich forests on the planet was tabled in State Parliament today. 

The Bill is a recipe for destruction, conflict and lost economic opportunity as the Liberals try to force Tasmania in the opposite direction of where its future lies.  It was on this basis that the Greens’ MPs took the highly unusual move of voting against the Bill on its first reading. 



Speech

Wednesday, 8 March 2017

2017 State of the State Address in Reply

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR (Denison - Leader of the Greens) - I note that, on this International Women's Day, the Minister for Health and the Treasurer have risen to leave the Chamber as the only female leader in the House gets to her feet to respond to the Premier's Address.

Mr Hidding interjecting. 

Ms O'CONNOR - Actually, Mr Hidding, last year it was worse.



Media Release

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

Plenty of Division in Premier's State of the State but No Vision

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader

Parliament was subjected to a stream of self-congratulatory guff from the Premier today, as he delivered his third State of the State address that was big on rhetoric and lacking in substance or vision.

Having savagely cut the Health and Education budgets in his government's first year, the Premier now wants Tasmanians to believe Health and Education are key priorities of his government.



Media Release

Monday, 27 February 2017

No Support for Liberals' Forest Plan

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests spokesperson

On ABC radio this morning, the Executive Chairman of Neville Smith Forest Products emphatically called on the government not to reignite conflict over the State's High Conservation Value forests.

Even Guy Barnett's self-proclaimed biggest fan doesn't want the Liberals to lead the industry and environment groups back into the trenches.

Last week, Mr Barnett claimed Neville Smith Forest Products were backing the government's plan to log the State's High Conservation Value forests. 



Media Release

Thursday, 23 February 2017

Fish Farms and Forests - State Election Will be a Referendum on the Environment

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader

With fish farming approved in East Coast waters despite the threat of environmental harm and community opposition, and loggers to be unleashed on High Conservation Value forests, the Liberals are making the next State Election a referendum on the environment.

As Labor cheers the Liberals on from the opposition benches, only the Greens will be there to stand up for Tasmania's environment and stand with communities determined to protect it.



Media Release

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Liberals Will Wear Blame if FT Fails in FSC Bid

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests' spokesperson

Forestry Tasmania has made it clear that if the Hodgman Government proceeds with its plan to open up 357 000 hectares of high conservation value forest to logging, it's bid for FSC will go back to square one.

FT's 'High Conservation Values Assessment and Management Plan' was released late Friday afternoon.*  



Media Release

Saturday, 11 February 2017

Barnett Exposed by his own Agency on Tarkine Logging

Cassy O'Connor MP - Forestry Tasmania’s own High Conservation Value forest maps identify the Tarkine as one of the richest high conservation value locations in the State.



Media Release

Friday, 10 February 2017

Protect the Tarkine for NW Jobs and Environment

-

Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens' Tourism spokesperson

Today's news that Forestry roading in the Trowutta Blackwood forests directly threatens nesting habitat for the Wedge-tailed eagle is alarming.   All practices must be stopped immediately and a full investigation undertaken.

Breeding habitat of one of the State's iconic and endangered species is being directly threatened. This strengthens the case to protect the area.



Media Release

Sunday, 5 February 2017

Tarkine Tourism Future for NW, not Forest and Heritage Destruction

Andrea Dawkins - Environmentalists and members of the Aboriginal community gathered in the North West today to call for takayna/the Tarkine to be protected from destruction.



Media Release

Sunday, 5 February 2017

Why Radio Silence on Macquarie Point Native Forest Exports?

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests spokesperson

It is now more than four months since the Liberals announced that Hobart's port would be turned into a woodchip and log export facility, yet Hobart residents are being treated like mushrooms.

On 14 September last year, the Resources Minister announced the mysterious and very recently formed, Majestic Timbers, had been awarded the contract to export 180 000 tonnes of native forest timber out of Hobart each year.



Media Release

Saturday, 10 December 2016

Warped Liberal Politics Put MONA's Macquarie Point Vision at Risk

Rosalie Woodruff MP - The Tasmanian Greens welcome the vision within the MONA Macquarie Point cultural plan, and the focus on Truth and Reconciliation.



Media Release

Friday, 9 December 2016

Forestry Politics on Show for Hobart Visitors

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests spokesperson

Today's government announcement TasPorts will be entering into a partnership to facilitate log and woodchip exports out of Macquarie Wharf, with taxpayer money, demonstrates this government's warped priorities.

Plans to begin wood exports from January next year, coincide with Hobart's peak tourist and festival season.  Unfortunately, due to the Hodgman Government's political priorities, tourists will be getting a real 'taste of Tasmania' under a Liberal Government.



Media Release

Friday, 18 November 2016

Industry Walking Away from Liberals' Logging Plan

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens' Leader and Forests spokesperson

If Tasmanians want any more proof that the government's plans to log the State's high conservation value forests are not supported by the hard heads in the industry, the letter from ARTEC will provide it.



Media Release

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Liberals Refuse to Rule Out Logging in Wielangta Tourist Drive

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Tourism spokesperson

The Hodgman Government's plans to extend the Great Eastern Drive by upgrading Wielangta Road are threatened by their own political agenda. 

Resources Minister, Guy Barnett's, commitment in Greens' Private Members time that the Liberals will stand by their plan to log the same forest is proof that their political point scoring trumps good sense. 



Media Release

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Warped Liberal Priorities Put Tourism at Risk

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens' Tourism spokesperson

Parks Minister, Matthew Groom’s Parks 21 progress report today comes on the heels of yesterday's Auditor General's report into Parks and Wildlife funding.  The Auditor General articulated a clear lack of appropriate funding for Parks management.

Recent tourist data confirms that Tasmania’s natural values are the biggest drawcard for visitors to our beautiful island State.  But this government's warped priorities put that at risk.



Media Release

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Liberals' Blind Forestry Agenda Threatens Wielangta Tourist Drive

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Tourism spokesperson

The government's plan to upgrade the Wielangta Forest Drive and extend the Great Eastern Drive offers real tourism potential for the East Coast.

At the same time as the Liberals are inviting visitors to experience the beauty of the Wielangta Forest, their Resources Minister plans to log it.  If logging isn't ruled out by the government, locals and tourists driving through the upgraded road will horrified by the scenery rather than delighting in it.



Media Release

Sunday, 13 November 2016

Greens to Seek Meeting with Forest Stewardship Council

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens will seek a meeting with the Forest Stewardship Council to ensure they are fully informed about the Liberals' plan to allow loggers in to 357 000 hectares of high conservation value forests.

It is important the Council understands the cynical political nature of the Liberals' forestry agenda, the threat it poses to conservation values and likelihood of increased conflict.



Media Release

Thursday, 10 November 2016

Liberals Can't Have it Both Ways on Wielangta

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens look forward to the Liberals ruling out logging in the Wielangta forest as they have with the Tasman forests near the Three Capes Walk.

We welcome the upgrading of roads and bridges through the beautiful Wielangta forests and agree it has enormous tourism potential.

The Wielangta forests, which were set aside to become reserves under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement, are part of the 357,000 hectares the Liberals want opened up to logging.



Media Release

Monday, 31 October 2016

Conservationists United, Call on Premier to Back Off HCV Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The conservation movement stands united to protect Tasmania's high conservation value forests and precious clean, green brand from the threats issued by the Hodgman Government.

Current and former State and National Greens' Leaders joined key leaders of the conservation movement today, united in our determination to stand for the forests.

We're just a fraction of the Tasmanians who stand ready to defend the forests, as always and yet again.



Motion

Thursday, 27 October 2016

Ministerial Statement on Forestry a Sham

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR (Denison - Leader of the Greens) - Madam Speaker, I give notice that on tomorrow I shall move -

That the ministerial statement on forestry delivered yesterday is a sham.

It is a sham because it misleads Tasmanians over the alleged need to allow loggers into 357 000 hectares of high conservation value forest. It misleads Tasmanians over the fact of ongoing subsidies, because it is a threat to the climate and it is designed to reignite forest conflict in Tasmania.

 

Leave to suspend of Standing Orders

 



Question

Thursday, 27 October 2016

FSC Certification Pipe Dream

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT



Question

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

Forestry Tasmania's Financial Loss

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT



Media Release

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

Liberals Shuffling Deck Chairs on Forestry's Titanic

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

Not known for their transparency, the Tasmanian Liberals are being highly transparent in their desire to create unnecessary conflict over forests in the lead up to the election.

The announcement today that legislation will be introduced next year to enable logging from 1 July 2018 is the clearest sign yet that the Liberals have decided to use the moratorium forests as a political weapon.



Media Release

Tuesday, 25 October 2016

Barnett Continues to Mislead, Divide over Forestry

Cassy O'Connor MP - The big lie of a commercially viable and sustainable native forest industry was exposed with the release of Forestry Tasmania's 2015-16 annual report and correspondence from the FT Board today.



Media Release

Monday, 17 October 2016

Minister Barnett Remains Delusional on Forests

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The Resources Minister is at it again.  He is seeking to mislead Tasmanians and whip up community conflict over forests.

Mr Barnett is trying to claim credit for the Liberal government for the growth in plantation product exports from the private sector.



Question

Thursday, 13 October 2016

Logging of High Conservation Value Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT



Question

Thursday, 13 October 2016

Forestry - Plans to Log High Conservation Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN

Can you confirm that Minister Barnett's announcement yesterday that he is moving to let the loggers into 400 000 hectares of high conservation value carbon-rich forest is not based on Forestry Tasmania advice but is cynical and entirely political? Is your Government so short of vision, ideas and actual achievements that the best it has to offer Tasmanians in the lead-up to the next election is a plan to plunder high conservation value forests and respark the forest conflict that has held this state back for decades.



Media Release

Thursday, 13 October 2016

Weak, Short-Sighted Liberals Set to Reignite Forest Wars

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

Through their contemptuous, fact-poor responses to Greens' questions today, the Premier and the Resources Minister have confirmed the Liberals plan to let the loggers in to 400 000 hectares of high conservation value, carbon-rich forest is a cynical and entirely political move.

This is a plan to plunder high conservation value forests and reignite the forest conflict that held this State back for decades.  



Media Release

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Liberals Declare War on High Conservation Value Forests

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The Hodgman Liberals today declared war on 400 000 hectares of Tasmania's globally significant, carbon rich forests which were set aside under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement to be formally reserved, then placed in a moratorium until 2020 by the Liberals.

These forests in places such as Bruny Island, Wielangta, the Blue Tier and the Tarkine should be formally protected in reserves due to their ecological, social and economic value to the State. 



Motion

Thursday, 22 September 2016

Call for No Commercial Tourism in Protected Areas

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Thursday 22 September 2016

Cassy O'Connor MP to move—

That the House:—

(1)           Recognises the outstanding universal value of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) and its globally significant natural and cultural values.

(2)           Acknowledges that Tasmania's world class reserves and protected areas underpin our environmental, social and economic wellbeing.

(3)           Notes that these areas were set aside for protection, not exploitation and that they belong to the people of Tasmania.



Motion

Thursday, 22 September 2016

House Misled Over Native Forest Logging Subsidies

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Thursday 22 September 2016

Cassy O'Connor MP to move—

That the House:—

(1)           Notes the comments of the Minister for Resources, Hon. Guy Barnett MP, on 25 August 2016, and on several occasions since then that there are “thousands” of jobs in the native forest industry.

(2)           Acknowledges the analysis of Tasmania's forestry sector undertaken by the Department of State Growth in October 2014, which states there were 1155 people employed in the native forestry sector in November 2013, down from 3459 in August 2006.



Motion

Monday, 19 September 2016

Log Trucks Full of Native Forest Products Ruining Hobart's Amenity

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Tuesday 20 September 2016

Cassy O'Connor MP to move—

That the House:—

(1)           Recognises the Liberals have made a decision to allow 180 000 cubic metres of native forest timber products to be shipped through the port of Hobart at Macquarie Point each year.

(2)           Acknowledges these exports will receive a substantial Commonwealth subsidy through the Freight Equalisation Scheme.

(3)           Notes that these exports will mean thousands of extra log truck movements through the city of Hobart.



Question

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Over $18m Taxpayer Subsidy of Woodchip Export

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Thursday 15 September 2016

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT

[10.28 a.m.]



Question

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Macquarie Point Woodchip Export Deal Suspicious

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT



Motion

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Call for Recovery Plan for Eastern Quoll

Rosalie Woodruff MP -

Thursday 15 September 2016

Rosalie Woodruff MP to move—

That the House:—

(1)           Notes with great sadness that the eastern quoll has been listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

(2)           Understands that this animal was also listed as endangered by the Commonwealth Government in 2015.

(3)           Realises that the population has crashed by 50 per cent in the past ten years.



Media Release

Monday, 19 September 2016

Hodgman Liberals Living Up to Lonely Planet's Warning

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

Last year, the travellers' bible, Lonely Planet, warned international travellers to visit Tasmania's wild places 'before compromises are made.'

The warning has fallen on the Liberals' deaf ears.  Every day in so many ways, the Liberals are setting about damaging Tasmania's hard won clean, green brand and international reputation.



Media Release

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Liberals Do Deal with Company That Didn't Exist over Macquarie Point Exports

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The more things change in Tasmania's native forest logging industry, apparently the more they stay the same, with the Greens revealing in Parliament today that the Liberals negotiated terms over Macquarie Wharf native forest product exports with a company that didn't exist.



Media Release

Friday, 9 September 2016

Minister Barnett in Cloud Cuckoo Land on FSC

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The Minister for Resources is living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks Forestry Tasmania can secure Forest Stewardship Certification under current Liberal policies.

Forestry Tasmania is still logging threatened species habitat in high conservation value forests. There are still rainforested coupes in the Tarkine that are schedule for logging.  The legislated minimum sawlog quota of 137 000 cubic metres is unsustainably high.



Media Release

Friday, 26 August 2016

Save the Tarkine Decision Welcome

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Tasmanian Greens commend the Full Court of the Supreme Court on its unanimous decision to dismiss the Liberal Government's appeal, and order to the Minister to provide a statement of reasons for the decision to grant mining leases for the Mt Lindsay and Livingstone projects.



Motion

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

Liberals Forestry Policy Deceptive and Delusional

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP to move—



Motion

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

Liberal Government's Blind Pursuit of Native Forest Biomass

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP to move—



Speech

Friday, 26 August 2016

Forest Stewardship Certification

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT

Yesterday you failed to state your Government's commitment to Forestry Tasmania achieving Forest Stewardship Council certification. Despite your plan to ramp up native forest logging for forest furnaces, is your Government committed to FSC certification? If so, can you name a single step you as Minister are taking to help FT secure FSC certification?

 

ANSWER



Question

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

Forest Furnaces

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Ms O'CONNOR question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr BARNETT



Motion

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

Support for Great Western Tiers National Park Inside TWWHA

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Cassy O'Connor MP to move—

That the House:—

(1)           Notes the United Nations World Heritage Committee's recommendation to resolve the tenure of extensions to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area that were delivered under the Labor Green Government.

(2)           Recognises that both the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments have agreed to accept all the World Heritage Committee's recommendations in response to the draft World Heritage Area Management Plan.



Speech

Wednesday, 17 August 2016

Urgent Action Needed to Save Giant Freshwater Lobster

Rosalie Woodruff MP -

[6.50 p.m.]



Media Release

Thursday, 25 August 2016

Resources Minister Misleads Parliament over Forestry Jobs

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

Resources Minister, Guy Barnett, needs to back up his claim made in Parliament today that there are 'thousands' of Tasmanians employed in the native forest industry, or come back into the House and correct the record.

We believe Mr Barnett is the most recent Minister to mislead Parliament.

The most recent NAB State Update for Tasmania confirms that the forestry sector is in continued structural decline. 



Media Release

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

Delusional Resources Minister Backs in Forest Furnaces, not FSC

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

In Question Time today, Resources Minister, Guy Barnett, displayed extraordinary ignorance in describing the burning of native forests for energy as 'renewable'. 

At the same time, he refused to commit the Liberal Government to securing Forest Stewardship Certification for Forestry Tasmania.

It is clear Mr Barnett is way out of his depth. 



Media Release

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

Liberals Still in Denial on Jobs

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

This month marked the tenth consecutive month of declining employment and participation rate in Tasmania.

The Treasurer still clings to his flimsy line of 1,300 jobs created since the election, conveniently ignoring the fact that the working age population has increased by 5,700 in that time.



Media Release

Thursday, 18 August 2016

Jobs' Growth Continues to Decline

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

The Liberals promised Tasmanians looking for work the world when they came to office. Sadly, what we have seen could not be further from the truth.

The ABS jobs figures released today mark the tenth straight month of decline in the trend number of employed people and the trend proportion of Tasmanians with jobs.

In total, the data tells us more than 5,000 Tasmanians have lost their jobs since last September.



Media Release

Friday, 15 July 2016

Mountain Bike Tourism Needs Wilderness Protection

- The government's support of mountain bike tourism is wonderful. We're hopeful they're finally getting the message that Tasmania's economic future doesn't lie in outdated and unviable industries, but in the modern tourist market.



Media Release

Tuesday, 12 July 2016

Barnett Must Leave His Prejudices at the Cabinet Door

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

Tasmanians may be surprised that Premier Hodgman has chosen the same person who led the witch hunt into the sale of the Triabunna woodchip mill as their new Minister for Resources, including forestry.

Mr Barnett has also spoken out against the Safe Schools program and his Parliamentary pronouncements point to a problem with LGBTI people.

The Greens wish Mr Barnett well in his new Cabinet position, but urge him to leave his prejudices at the door.



Media Release

Friday, 8 July 2016

Forestry EOI Process Won't Revive Native Forest Logging

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The Minister for Forests is dreaming if he believes there is a viable future in native forest woodchip or whole log exports without significant economic and environmental cost to Tasmania.

His announcement today of vague details about the EOI process raises more questions than it answers.  The lengthy delays and ongoing secrecy points to an exercise in futility.



Media Release

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

Brand Integrity Requires More than Celebrity

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader 

The Tasmanian Greens welcome the appointment of Ray Martin as a Brand Ambassador for the State but we caution an over-reliance on celebrity at a time when the brand is under threat from Liberal policy.

The Liberals tore up the forest peace deal and want to ramp up native forest logging. Almost 400 000 hectares of high conservation value forests set aside under the TFA is in their sights for harvesting.



Speech

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

State Budget: Address in Reply

Andrea Dawkins -

Ms DAWKINS (Bass) –

Mr Deputy Speaker, the Greens’ Alternative Budget is a statement of values.  It restores frontline funding to education and rightly includes the state Government's share of responsibility for crumbling sewerage and water infrastructure - two important issues for my seat of Bass and for the wider community.



Media Release

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

Forestry Minister Walking Away from FSC

Cassy O'Connor MP - In Budget Estimates, Forestry Minister, Peter Gutwein, has confirmed the Liberals in government are doing nothing to support Forestry Tasmania’s bid for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, and are content to continue the unsustainable, uneconomic logging of high conservation value forests.



Media Release

Friday, 3 June 2016

Liberal Fail on Dud Anti-Protester Laws

Cassy O'Connor MP - If Tasmanians needed any more proof that the draconian anti-protest laws are unworkable, ridiculous law, they have it today with charges against every Lapoinya arrestee dropped.



Motion

Wednesday, 1 June 2016

Greens Alternative Budget 2016: Funding to Provide for Skills and Employment in Forest Restoration

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP to move—

That the House:—

(1)           Notes:—

(a)           in 2012, the Labor Green Government delivered the Tasmanian Forest Carbon Study which assessed the amount and potential economic value of carbon sequestered across the entire Tasmanian forest estate;

(b)           this work has been recently updated through the report, ‘Climate Opportunities in Tasmania’s Forests’ by TreeMod Consulting;



Media Release

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Tasmanian Greens' Alternative Budget

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Treasury spokesperson

The Greens believe governments should have a vision for the future that extends beyond the next election.   We recognise that genuine planning for the 21st century requires a long term vision and the courage to make bold decisions to drive change.

Containing more than 100 costed initiatives, the Greens’ Alternative Budget invests in disadvantaged Tasmanians along with measures that build economic and environmental sustainability while growing skills and jobs for the new economy.



Media Release

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Time to Scrap Liberals' Protest Laws

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader 

The decision by Tasmania Police to drop charges against Bob Brown is further evidence we'd be far better off without the Liberals' protester laws.

The Greens have tabled in parliament a bill to repeal the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Act 2014 and we will be bringing this on for debate in our Private Members time, next Wednesday.



Media Release

Tuesday, 10 May 2016

Government Should Account for Forest Carbon

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

We welcome updated carbon accounting on the potential climate and monetary value of Tasmania’s forests, in a report produced by TreeMod and released today by The Wilderness Society.

It's clear there is enormous value in protecting the carbon in our high conservation value and mature forests, but there is also a market for this carbon and a potential income stream for the State.  What is required now is leadership. 



Motion

Thursday, 5 May 2016

Minister Groom Must Act Now to Save Swift Parrot from Extinction

Rosalie Woodruff MP -

Rosalie Woodruff to move—

That the House:—

(1)           Notes the launch of a campaign by the Bob Brown Foundation to Save Bruny Island from the logging that is destroying the habitat of the critically endangered swift parrot.



Speech

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Greens Still Standing Alone on Protection of the Swift Parrot

Rosalie Woodruff MP -

Ms WOODRUFF (Franklin) - Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to draw the attention of the House to a campaign that has just been launched in Tasmania which reflects the level of concern, indeed desperation, in parts of the community over this Government's inaction on endangered species.

In 2015, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared the swift parrot, the world's fastest parrot, to be critically endangered.  this is the most serious warning that can be sounded about a species.  The next step is extinction. 



Motion

Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Forestry Tasmania Alter FPP for Derby Coupe After Tourism Outrage

-

Andrea Dawkins MP to move—That the House:—

(1)           Notes:—

(a)           that sadly, and despite strong objection by the community and interested parties, logging has begun in coupe CC104B at Mutual Valley, Derby, albeit with the Forest Practices Plan (FPP) slightly varied;



Media Release

Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Bushfire Inquiry A Whitewash

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Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Fire spokesperson

The Bushfire Inquiry findings paint over the devastation of the summer bushfires in the World Heritage Area. It's as though they never existed.

Not one single recommendation in the Committee's report calls to review procedures or respond to climate change. These were two of the key reasons for submitting a dissenting report. *

Because of the Committee's membership, it was always going to be a whitewash but the denial around the need to change our response to bushfire management is mind-boggling.



Media Release

Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Whole Lot of Nothing on Secretive Forestry EOI Process

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

Forestry Minister, Peter Gutwein, has again treated Parliament with contempt, spending more than five minutes giving no detail on the so-called Southern Residues Solution' EOI process.

This process began last June, yet today the Minister could only tell us that contractual negotiations with four proponents are underway.

What are the proposals put forward?  Doesn't Minister Gutwein believe Tasmanians have a right to know?



Media Release

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Police Escort for Forestry Over The Top

-

Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass

The parade of heavy machinery through Scottsdale yesterday with police escort enforces the over the top tactics entrenched in Tasmania’s forestry practises and shows just how far Forestry Tasmania is from understanding the FSC process.

The community has been explicit they would not be staging direct protest action and a police escort was completely unnecessary.



Media Release

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Gutwein Should Use Derby Logging Delay to Consult Constituents

-

Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass

Forestry Tasmania has advised that logging of the outer part of contentious coupe CC104B at Derby will be delayed to February 2017.*

If nothing else, this is acknowledgement that the community were right to speak up and express their concerns.

Concerned Derby residents now have 10 months to convince the government the coupe's outer parts would be better left standing and contributing to mountain bike tourism.



Media Release

Monday, 4 April 2016

Greens' Response to Announcement of New Political Group

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

The beauty of a democracy is that any group of concerned citizens can speak up and establish organisations to represent their concerns. It is, of course, disappointing to hear that a member of the United Tasmania Group has lost faith in the Tasmanian Greens’ and decided to establish a new group.

There's been no representation made to any of the State Greens’ MPs in relation to Dr Holloway’s concerns, so it is difficult to determine exactly what statements or policies have caused these grievances.



Media Release

Monday, 21 March 2016

TWWHA Still in Limbo

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Parks spokesperson

The government's statements about not logging in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is a step forward but Tasmanians need to know what the Liberals really mean when they say they 'accept the United Nations' Report recommendations'.



Media Release

Thursday, 17 March 2016

Burning Questions Unanswered over TWWHA Fires

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Parks spokesperson

In Question Time today, neither the Minister for Parks, Mr Groom, nor the Minister for Emergency Services, Mr Hidding, could explain why it took so long for the State to request extra remote fire-fighting resources to douse the fires in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in January this year.



Media Release

Thursday, 17 March 2016

Time to Repeal the Anti-Protest Laws

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

With the resignation of Minister Harriss and a High Court challenge under way, now is the right to time for the Government to admit its mistake and to repeal their anti-protest laws.

The Greens tabled the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Repeal Bill in Parliament today to revoke these extreme laws.



Media Release

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

State of the State Address in Reply

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

Madam Speaker,

We meet on the land of an ancient and noble people, land that was taken from them with terrible violence and trickery on the part of the men who came before us.

We do well to remind ourselves often that this land – lutruwita/Tasmania – was never ceded by its original owners.

On behalf of the Tasmanian Greens MPs, I pay respect to the palawa/pakana people of Tasmania, to their treasured elders, past and present.



Media Release

Thursday, 10 March 2016

Anti-Protest Laws to be Challenged in High Court

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

Tasmania's draconian, undemocratic anti-protest laws will be tested in the High Court and we applaud those who are prepared to challenge this extreme legislation.

Good on Bob Brown and the Mum and Dad and Grand Dad protestors, as well as their legal team for standing up for the democratic right to peaceful protest and taking on the Hodgman Liberals.

The Liberals' anti-democratic protestor laws are an antiquated legacy of disgraced former Minister Harriss.  They should've gone when he did.



Media Release

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Forest Stewardship Certification

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The long-awaited Forest Stewardship Council audit report on Forestry Tasmania reveals the GBE has a long way to go before it achieves FSC certification.

FT still has numerous major 'non-conformities' to address including its ongoing logging of old growth forests, its approach to managing rare, threatened and endangered species and its monitoring and assessment regime.



Media Release

Thursday, 18 February 2016

Tough Choices Ahead for Minister Gutwein

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The new Minister for Forests will need to have the courage to make the tough choices Paul Harriss clearly didn't want to make.

The first thing Mr Gutwein needs to do is develop an actual forest policy that isn't wholly slogan-based. 

His predecessor was operating in a policy vacuum, creating community division while taking credit for the private plantation sector's growth and overseeing a mass exodus from the Forestry Tasmania Board.



Media Release

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Farewell Paul Harriss

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The resignation of Paul Harriss from the Ministry and the Parliament is good news and an acknowledgement of the flawed "forests policy" of this Government.

Before entering the House of Assembly less than two years ago, Paul Harriss MLC spent the entire previous term of government tearing down the peace that was possible through the Tasmanian Forest Agreement.



Media Release

Sunday, 14 February 2016

Greens Will Move to Repeal Draconian Anti-Protest Laws

-

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

A retired anaesthetist, two nurses and a local builder arrested under draconian Liberal anti-protest laws at Lapoinya are exactly the kind of Tasmanians who Minister Harriss pledged would not be targeted when the Bill was before Parliament in 2014.

These Tasmanians are hardly the 'extremist protesters' repeatedly referred to by Paul Harriss during debate on the Bill.  It is becoming increasingly clear that Mr Harriss is the extremist.



Media Release

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

Incompetent, Divisive Forests Minister Must Resign

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

Resources Minister, Paul Harriss, is presiding over a debacle in his portfolio and all of it, his own making.

Forestry Tasmania is in complete disarray. Its hopes of securing Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC) look increasingly like a pipe dream with the resignation of Bob Annells as Chair of the Board, and the loss of other key Board members who supported the principles of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement.



Media Release

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Draconian New Protest Laws Used at Lapoinya

-

Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass

More than 70 concerned residents and community members gathered to stand up for the Lapoinya forest, to protest the roading and forestry operations.

We have seen the government's draconian new laws in action for the first time today.

A local anaesthetist was arrested and charged under the government's new protest laws at Lapoinya, and a local councillor was fined. This is despite Minister Harriss' claims these laws would "protect 'mum and dad' type protestors."*



Media Release

Monday, 11 January 2016

Sustainable Forestry Our Future

-

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson

The increase in Tasmania's wood exports are thanks to sustainable private sector plantation-based forestry, not politics or state government intervention.

The forest industry has looked to the market and realised their future lies in sustainable forestry, with a social and environmental conscience. Businesses like Forico are a clear example, and are the reason for Tasmania's wood export growth.

It's laughable that the state government thinks they can take credit for the increase.



Media Release

Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Response to Joan Rylah

-

Andrea Dawkins MP | Response to Joan Rylah

The Forest Peace Deal was proudly torn up by the current Liberal government loudly proclaiming the fulfilment of an election promise.

Mrs Rylah's suggestion yesterday that the Forest Peace Deal should be adhered to by the signatories is the  height of hypocrisy. If the government wanted to rely on the peace deal they should not have ripped it up.

The Greens will always support peaceful and non violent protest at environmental destruction and any other issue of community concern.



Media Release

Thursday, 17 December 2015

Premier Should Give Lapoinya a Christmas Reprieve

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass

Now is the time for the Premier to step in and give those who have been fighting for the Lapoinya forest the gift of a Christmas reprieve.

Lapoinya is home to threatened species such, like the Giant Freshwater Crayfish and a healthy Tasmanian Devil population.

RTI documents also show that Lapoinya may well have aboriginal archaeology and heritage sites within its boundaries.



Media Release

Sunday, 13 December 2015

Paris Climate Deal Great Opportunity for Tasmania

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Climate Change spokesperson

The historic deal reached between 195 nations at the Paris climate summit is great news for the planet, and for Tasmania.

As an island economy with abundant renewable resources and a massive carbon bank in our forests, Tasmania has a chance to shine and deliver sustainable jobs and greater prosperity to its people.



Media Release

Friday, 4 December 2015

Harriss Deaf to Community Wishes on Lapoinya

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass 

The Forests of Lapoinya Action Group met with the Resources Minister, Paul Harriss to plead with him to save their beloved forest and have been shut down.

Minister Harriss told the concerned residents that Forestry Tasmania needed the coupe to fill the wood supply allocation, and he won't reverse the decision to log at Lapoinya.

Accounting has shown that Lapoinya will return no profit to the government, and it fails to pass the common sense test.



Media Release

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

FSC Looking Like a Mirage Under Harriss

Cassy O'Connor MP - With 15% of forest operations breaching Forest Protection Plans, Minister Harriss' assertion about the government's commitment to high environmental standards is a joke.



Media Release

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Forest Practices Plans Routinely Ignored

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The annual report of Tasmania's Forest Practices' Authority makes it clear that Forest Practices Plans (FPPs) are regularly ignored by industry operators, and yet those who breach the Forest Practices Act face little or no sanction.

The report shows that 14.8% of operations did not comply with FPPs. Of particular note are FEA ltd and AKS Forest Solutions of which 50% and 56% respectively did not comply.



Media Release

Friday, 6 November 2015

Liberal Greenwash Won't Fool Lonely Planet

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Parks spokesperson

As Greens Leader, I have today co-signed a letter with Greens Senator Nick McKim to Lonely Planet, in response to their travel advisory yesterday warning that Tasmania’s wilderness is under threat.

The content of our letter is self-explanatory and it confirms Lonely Planet’s assessment.*



Media Release

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Lonely Planet Hits Out at Hodgman Government

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Parks spokesperson

The Hodgman Government is damaging Tasmania's wilderness tourism brand internationally.*

Travel Bible Lonely Planet has advised travellers to get in quick or miss out on Tasmania's pristine wilderness, "before compromises are made".

Lonely Planet has told international travellers they need to visit Tasmania before our world renowned wilderness is lost and have laid the blame squarely at the feet of the Liberal government.



Media Release

Friday, 30 October 2015

Stop Logging All Swift Parrot Forests

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Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson

The international conservation listing of the swift parrot as critically endangered is the wakeup call the government needs to stop logging its habitat.

We know logging is a direct threat to the parrot. It means less breeding and feeding habitat and means sugar gliders are more likely to eat chicks and parents.

The government needs to stop logging swift parrot habitats now. It's not too late to protect this bird.



Media Release

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Forestry Tasmania Annual Report Smoke and Mirrors

Cassy O'Connor MP - Forestry Tasmania's Annual Report 2014-15 paints a blithely optimistic picture of the GBE's financial fortunes, glossing over a continuing reliance on public subsidies and bailouts at public expense.



Media Release

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Another Day, Another Handout to Forestry

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Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

Another day in Tasmania, another handout to private forestry at public expense.

After late last year redirecting $7M allocated exit funding to keep people in the native forest industry, the Liberals are paying another $1M in compensation to forests contractors.

It's also now well understood that a number of industry players paid taxpayer money to exit native forest logging, pocketed the money and were back at work in the forests shortly after the Liberals took office.

When will this stop?



Media Release

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Forestry Tasmania Ministerial Charter

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Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

The Ministerial Charter that Forestry Tasmania is expected to abide by makes it clear the GBE is being set up to fail, despite the Liberals' rhetoric.

Tabled in Parliament today by Minister Harriss, the Charter requires Forestry Tasmania to be ‘financially self-sustaining’.  The GBE has failed to operate without massive subsidies in the past and is highly unlikely to in the future.



Media Release

Thursday, 17 September 2015

Groom Content to Pillage TWWHA

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Parks spokesperson

The Hodgman Government's passionate desire to log, mine and increase private development in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area not only shows a reckless disregard for its values but also the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Minister Groom's obfuscating and empty statements about 'traditional industries' in question time reveal a stunning disregard for Tasmania's protected places.

The government's position is clear - they think they are above UNESCO.



Media Release

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

Harriss in Denial on TWWHA Logging

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson

Resources Minister, Paul Harriss, has made it clear the government plans to blunder on and log in protected areas, including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA), in contravention of explicit advice from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that to do so would threaten World Heritage values.



Media Release

Tuesday, 15 September 2015

Minister Harriss Misleading over Forest Industry

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson 

Resources Minister, Paul Harriss, used Question Time this morning to rule out the bizarre idea of woodchip exports from Hobart’s wharf, but continued to maintain the pretence that there is a future in native forest woodchip exports or biomass without government subsidies.



Media Release

Saturday, 5 September 2015

Liberals Caught in World Heritage Bind of Their Own Making

Cassy O'Connor MP - The Hodgman Government is delusional if it believes it can negotiate with the UNESCO World Heritage committee to allow logging, mining and intensified private tourism operations in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.



Media Release

Thursday, 27 August 2015

Tassie Forests could get Logging Reprieve

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Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson

The Greens welcome Minister Groom’s commitment in Question Time today to investigate whether Tasmania may apply for funding to stop logging the habitat of threatened species such as the Swift Parrot. 

The question was prompted by a Radio National report which revealed that federal Minister Hunt had invited the Victorian government to apply for funding to stop logging the home of the endangered Leadbeater’s possum.



Motion

Wednesday, 26 August 2015

Lapoinya Logging

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Andrea Dawkins MP to move That this House:

1.     Notes with regret that Forestry Tasmania are still intent on logging Coupe FD053 at Lapoinya in the State’s north west;

2.     Notes further that objection by the Tasmanian community at the determination of FT to level the native forest at Lapoinya is ongoing and gaining momentum, with another public meeting held as recently as last weekend;



Media Release

Thursday, 20 August 2015

More Woodsmoke and Mirrors from Harriss

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Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forestry spokesperson

The Liberals continue to mislead Tasmanians over the future viability of the native forest woodchip industry.

Minister Harriss today told Parliament that government has received nineteen expressions of interest from the private sector in response to its so called 'Southern Residues Solutions' process.

The only way a private operator will invest in a woodchip mill or biomass generator in the State's South is if they are assured of substantial public subsidies.



Media Release

Tuesday, 18 August 2015

Rosalie Woodruff New Franklin MP

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Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Member for Franklin

I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to represent the Franklin electorate at the state level.

My six years as a Huon Valley councillor have given me a good feel for the issues in the southern part of the electorate and I look forward to learning more about the eastern shore.

Climate change is the biggest issue facing humanity. Tasmania, with our renewable energy, relatively high rainfall, coastal towns and protected wild places, should be leading the response.



Motion

Tuesday, 18 August 2015

Lapoinya Logging

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NOTICE OF MOTION

That this House:

1.     Notes with regret that Forestry Tasmania are still intent on logging Coupe FD053 at Lapoinya in the State’s north west;

2.     Notes further that objection by the Tasmanian community at the determination of FT to level the native forest at Lapoinya is ongoing and gaining momentum, with another public meeting held as recently as last weekend;



Media Release

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Emissions Reduction Target Woefully Inadequate

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Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader and Climate Change spokesperson

The Abbott Liberals have once more revealed they are a bunch of climate Luddites with their woeful 26% emissions reduction target by 2030. 

Our grandchildren will not thank the Liberals for saying they will do so little, so late, and in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence.

Basing a far-off reduction target on 2005 emissions levels is an unscientific farce. The Kyoto baseline year is 1990. 



Media Release

Monday, 20 July 2015

Biomass Energy Another Tired Liberal Policy

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass

Resources Minister Paul Harriss is exactly right; export of wood chips is a poor, unprofitable use of our precious forests.  But, biomass comes a very close second.

What we are seeing are the same tired, old Liberal policies of shutting down renewables in favour of coal and wood fired energy production. The impacts for climate change will be disastrous, and energy production from biomass just another massive step backwards under this government.



Media Release

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

No FSC Means no Social Licence for Pulp Mill

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Environment spokesperson

The only way for a pulp mill to be viable in the Tamar Valley is for the FSC accreditation for our forests, which is proving to be problematic, and issues such as dioxin run off and carbon emissions would need to be addressed.  To date the latter has never even been considered.

Viability has really only been assured in terms of construction, and on the back of current global and domestic economic factors.  But, the question still remains; where is the wood going to come from? 



Media Release

Friday, 10 July 2015

Harriss has no Plan, no Idea

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass 

If Ms Smith's resignation is not due to being gagged, we can only assume she is the first to flee the sinking ship that is Mr Harriss' ministerial career.

Ms Smith's comments supporting Forestry Tasmania's closure are now being heard clearer than ever.



Media Release

Thursday, 9 July 2015

Only 'Yes Men' Welcome on Harriss' Council

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Member for Bass

The resignation of Sue Smith from the Ministerial Advisory Council on Forestry confirms that Minister Paul Harriss will not tolerate dissenting views when it comes to the mendicant GBE that is Forestry Tasmania.

First we saw Minister Harriss gagging Council members for having a view other than his own, now we are seeing the consequence of those views.

Ms Smith's comments that Forestry Tasmania be shut down now ring truer than ever.



Media Release

Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Heritage No Excuse for Logging the TWWHA

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Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Environment and Heritage spokesperson

Senator Colbeck's comments supporting selective logging in the World Heritage Area are offensive, and use of heritage as a transparent disguise is laughable.

Heritage is a key part of Tasmania's identity, but the assertion that our precious wild places be destroyed in its name is insulting.



Media Release

Saturday, 4 July 2015

Minister Harriss being Deliberately Deceitful over WHA Logging

Cassy O'Connor MP -

Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader

Resources Minister, Paul Harriss’s ridiculous claim that the Greens supported logging in the World Heritage Area does not stand up to scrutiny.  He is, again, being deceitful and divisive for base political purposes.

Four out of five Greens’ MPs gave support to the Tasmanian Forest Agreement because it was the vehicle for a 170 000 hectare extension to the WHA, provided a pathway to end unsustainable logging and to create formal reserves in 504 000 hectares of forested land.



Media Release

Friday, 19 June 2015

Liberals Forest Council in Disarray

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Nick McKim MP | Greens Forests spokesperson

Forests Minister Paul Harriss has been exposed by members of his own Ministerial Advisory Council on Forestry as having no plan for Forestry Tasmania.

He has also been exposed as an authoritarian, anti-free speech zealot who is not prepared to tolerate dissenting views.



Media Release

Wednesday, 24 June 2015

RET Decision Appalling for Tasmania and Our native Forests

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Nick McKim MP | Greens Forests spokesperson

The gutting of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) and the inclusion of native forest biomass in the target is an appalling outcome for Tasmania, and in particular will drive ongoing destruction of native forest.

With the collapse of export woodchip markets, this decision plays straight into the hands of Tasmania’s ideologically driven forest destroyers.



Media Release

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Harriss has no Plan for Forestry

Nick Mckim - Forests Minister Paul Harriss is unable to provide a future operating model for Forestry Tasmania, or a business case for its so-called return to financial viability.



Media Release

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Forestry Tasmania - Increased Debt, No Plan to Pay it Back

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Nick McKim MP | Greens Treasury spokesperson

Treasurer Peter Gutwein has today admitted that he has increased Forestry Tasmania’s debt capacity by $10 million to $41m, yet has repeatedly failed to explain how Forestry Tasmania can ever pay back the money it owes.

We know that Forestry Tasmania currently owes $27.8 million, yet the Treasurer has no idea whatsoever how and when FT can ever become financially viable.



Question

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Native Forest Biomass

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Mr McKIM question to MINISTER for RESOURCES, Mr HARRISS

[10.31 a.m.]



Media Release

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Harriss Refuses to Rule Out Public Subsidies for Native Forest Furnaces

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Nick McKim MP | Greens Forestry spokesperson

Forests Minister Paul Harriss has refused to rule out ongoing public subsidies for burning native forest woodchips and pulp logs to generate electricity.

When asked to rule out cash subsidies, discount woodchips and pulp logs, or an assumption of market risk by the Tasmanian taxpayer in parliament today, Mr Harriss’ silence was deafening.



Media Release

Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Greens to Pledge to Aid Forestry Workers

- The Tasmanian Greens Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP today called on Labor and Liberal to commit to releasing the $16 million of unspent forestry money to those who need it.