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.
It's interesting that after a Federal election where the Right wing conservatives in the Liberal Party were rejected by Tasmanians, Premier Hodgman has appointed a Right wing conservative to his Cabinet.
The highly contentious Forests portfolio is being handed to a novice Minister. Mr Barnett is dealing with a Liberal promise to rebuild the forest industry, in denial of the fact that the native forest industry in Tasmania has been dying over the past decade, while global markets are favour FSC products and sustainably produced timber.
We encourage Mr Barnett to try to break the Hodgman Government culture of dishonesty and evasiveness in Parliament and its attachment to spin.
The Greens hope Mr Barnett can be part of a new look Liberal Cabinet, that treats the voters of Tasmania with more respect than it has to date.