Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Primary Industries spokesperson
Last summer’s bushfires burned large tracts of native forest, including the leatherwood trees so critical to the honey industry.
The fires had a devastating impact on beekeepers and the primary industries sector, with much of the leatherwood resource in the southern forests torched, scorched or smoke damaged.
These are hard times for the honey industry.
The best way to support beekeepers around the state is to protect the leatherwood trees they rely on to produce the world’s best honey.
We hope, in tabling the petition to protect a single leatherwood coupe in Maydena, Labor Leader, Rebecca White, will recognise one coupe won’t save the honey sector.
If they are serious about backing in the beekeepers, Labor should support the protection of all Tasmania’s leatherwood forests.
Ms White must reject the anti-environment, anti-forest protection statements made at last weekend’s ALP State Conference. It’s clear business-as-usual in our forests is bad for beekeepers in the medium to long term.
Business-as-usual in the forests is both Liberal and Labor policy. Tasmania’s struggling, world class beekeepers deserve better.
All Tasmanian political leaders must commit to protecting leatherwood forests to ensure a viable future for the State’s beekeepers.