Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
Like all who are desperate for action in a time of climate and biodiversity crisis, the Greens are so relieved to see the Victorian government commit to ending native forest logging by 1 January next year.
Even Daniel Andrews gets it.
While the Victorian government was announcing this sensible decision, log trucks were driving down Macquarie Street in Hobart, groaning under the weight of oldgrowth logs*. It’s a Tasmanian tragedy.
Jeremy Rockliff has spent months talking about the aspirations of Tasmanian children to justify his stadium folly.
Young Tasmanians are crying out for climate action – they know their future depends on it. The thousands of students who’ve rallied for a safe climate know that ending native forest logging is an essential and ethical step for their future.
We have to keep carbon that’s in the ground, in the ground and protect critical habitat. There’s no possible justification for continuing to log, burn and chip Tasmania’s vast native forest carbon banks and critical wildlife habitats.
Victoria’s forests, while important carbon stores, are pretty tame compared to lutruwita/Tasmania’s. Our old, dense forests are some of the most magnificent on the planet – they literally dwarf their mainland cousins.
Our island is the big tree state and we should be proud of it. For visitors and Tasmanians alike, we must follow Victoria’s lead and protect our precious native forests.
If Jeremy Rockliff was thinking clearly and about the future of Tasmania’s children he’d follow the lead now set my WA Premier, Mark McGowan, and now Victoria’s Dan Andrews.
*https://www.instagram.com/p/CskR0vCv_dP/?hl=en