Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader and Parks spokesperson
With his political masters plowing on - in the face of growing opposition - to exploit Tasmania’s public protected areas, DPIPWE Secretary, Tim Baker, has been reduced to begging disaffected staff to show loyalty to Parks Manager, Jason Jacobi.
Mr Jacobi has been in the public glare over his role in enabling the divisive Lake Malbena project and privatisation of Halls Island in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. We accept Mr Jacobi is just doing his job for a Liberal Government, but his decisions in the role should be open to scrutiny.
The Greens know there are plenty of dedicated State servants in DPIPWE who share deepening community opposition to the Liberals’ Expressions of Interest process. Tim Baker and Jason Jacobi know it too.
Mr Baker’s plea for loyalty towards Mr Jacobi will fall flat with every DPIPWE staff member who joined the agency in order to help look after this island’s public wild lands.