The Tasmanian Greens today tabled in the State Parliament their proposed terms of reference for a Commission of Inquiry into Forestry Tasmania, to investigate financial mismanagement, decline in asset value, as well as viable alternatives for the future management of the forest estate.
“The Greens’ proposed Commission of Inquiry would be independent, autonomous and without the baggage which has prevented previous internal or parliamentary committees attempts to break the public hand-out cycle of Forestry Tasmania,” Greens Leader and Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP said today.
“It is a safe bet that the Hodgman government’s internal departmental Review of Forestry Tasmania will not be as forensic as our proposed Commission of Inquiry, and nor will it address the range of serious and outstanding considerations contained in our proposed terms of reference.”
“These are the matters, that the Harriss Review will seek to sweep under the carpet.”
“However all Tasmanian taxpayers deserve to know where the hundreds of millions of public subsidies have gone, the probity of commitments entered into by the corporation on behalf of the Crown, as well as an objective assessment of its future.”
“No matter the spin of the expected Ministerial statement on the internal review, our proposed Commission of Inquiry Terms of Reference will provide the checklist of pertinent and outstanding matters warranting investigation, and answers to be provided to the public,” Mr Booth said.