Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens’ Leader
On behalf of the Tasmanian Greens, I warmly congratulate former Tasmanian and Australian Greens Leader, Christine Milne on being awarded Order of Australia honours.
This is a hard earned honour for a Tasmanian who has devoted her life to the protection of nature.
Christine is an environmental defender and social champion for our island, recognised for her lifelong activism on the national and international stage. and a climate expert on the world stage.
Since her arrest on the Franklin River as a young woman, Christine has been a tenacious advocate for Tasmania’s wild places.
An activist to her core, Christine was instrumental in extensions to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) in 1989 and in the Senate, where she also led the debate and design of the price on carbon to tackle climate change.
Christine’s legacy began leading her community to stopping the Wesley Vale pulp mill, after which she was elected State Parliament.
During her time in the Tasmanian Parliament, Christine was integral to huge extensions to TWWHA in 1989, the introduction of the anti-discrimination laws and gay law reform.
As Member for Lyons, and Greens Leader, Christine was part of the tripartisan effort to help the community heal and reform our gun laws in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Christine was the first woman to lead a political party in Tasmania in 1993, and then went on to lead the Greens nationally in 2012.
Christine’s trail blazing has led to the election of more and more Tasmanian women. It has helped challenge old, archaic attitudes, and create a more respectful environment in both the State and Federal Parliament.
Tasmania would not be as clean, green, safe and inclusive island it is today without the leadership and advocacy of Christine Milne OAM.
As Greens in Parliament, we will pay tribute to Christine by doing everything within our power to defend this island, and uphold her continuing and inspirational legacy.