Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson
Resources Minister, Guy Barnett, is at it again. He’s whipping up fear and loathing in the community over forests, with unfounded allegations over tree spiking to deflect from his hopeless mismanagement of the portfolio.
The day after Joan Rylah's anti-protest laws Bunnings faux pax, and before the police investigation has been finalised, Guy Barnett is out publicly peddling dangerous mistruths.
There is zero evidence any conservationist has spiked trees in any production forest.
There never has been. Every time a fraudulent claim is made by the industry or political trouble makers like Guy Barnett, it has been debunked. In fact, previous tree spiking incidents have proven to be the work of logging interests with the aim of falsely accusing forest defenders.
Tasmania has a proud history of peaceful protest to defend this island’s extraordinary forests and wilderness.
Mr Barnett is a disgrace. If he has evidence of deliberate tree spiking, he needs to produce it.
We understand the police investigation is ongoing. It’s highly improper for a Minister of the Crown to be pre-empting police findings.
The Greens call bulldust on this latest nasty outpouring from a Minister who can’t be trusted with our forests, our wildlife, or to tell the truth.