Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson
The Liberals came to government in 2014 promising to end the subsidies to native forest logging. Six years later, the Premier confirmed in question time today, nothing has changed.
With Malaysian timber giant, Ta Ann, walking away from southern forests to accelerate logging in the Tarkine, we reminded the Premier that taxpayers have forked out $44 million to Ta Ann and asked him to confirm the native forest logging industry remains heavily subsidized and would fall over without public money.
Mr Gutwein’s answer was revealing. He attacked the Greens for advocating for forest protection, talked up forest destruction and avoided the question. He couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth to Tasmanians.
The truth is, Ta Ann only exists in Tasmania because public subsidies of its deforestation activities continue, with Liberal and Labor backing.
The Liberals don’t want scrutiny of their ongoing forest destruction agenda at public expense. That’s why, this year, they cut Budget Estimates scrutiny of Forestry in half.
They are afraid Tasmanians will see through their lies, told at massive expense to nature, the climate and taxpayers.