Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson
Last year, the travellers' bible, Lonely Planet, warned international travellers to visit Tasmania's wild places 'before compromises are made.'
The warning has fallen on the Liberals' deaf ears. Every day in so many ways, the Liberals are setting about damaging Tasmania's hard won clean, green brand and international reputation.
Images have gone out on social media of a clear-felled logging wasteland that extends to the edge of a road taking visitors through to the Tall Trees Reserve in the Styx.
Not that long ago, Forestry Tasmania had enough sense and shame to leave a buffer of trees between a clearfell operation and roads. Now, on a major forest visitor road, the evidence of outdated and destructive native forest logging practice is apparently proudly displayed.
News is also spreading about the Liberals' plans to ship 180 000 cubic metres of native forest timber products out of the port of Hobart.
There will be thousands of extra heavy vehicles going through this beautiful city each year. This is anathema to our growing reputation as one of the coolest, most picturesque and culturally rich cities in the world.
The Liberals need to wake up to themselves. Their destructive ways are damaging the brand that underpins our visitor and export economies.