Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson
Conservationists breathed a sigh of relief today with Forestry Tasmania confirming in GBE hearings they will be halting logging in the Eastern Tiers’ swift parrot forests – for now.
Forestry Tasmania admitted they had evidence the critically endangered swift parrot was present in the Eastern Tiers coupes, and would be pausing logging. This is a vindication for the brave forest defenders, including Dr Bob Brown, who put their bodies on the line to protect that critical habitat from destruction.
It took the work of conservationists to halt logging in the Eastern Tiers swift parrot forests. The Rockliff Government, through its forestry GBE, would have continued trashing the critical habitat, unchecked unless forest defenders and citizen scientists had been there to defend the remaining habitat of the fastest bird on Earth.
This small patch of habitat is safe for now, but Forestry confirmed their intention to return and log it, cheered on by their science-denying Minister.
At his first GBE hearings, Minister Ellis smirked, propagandised and told Tasmanians black is white. He dismissed the concerns of scientists and conservationists – including those who provided the evidence that forced Forestry Tasmania to halt logging operations.
It seems the Liberals won’t rest until the precious threatened swift parrot is driven to extinction.