Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson
Resources Minister, Guy Barnett, needs to back up his claim made in Parliament today that there are 'thousands' of Tasmanians employed in the native forest industry, or come back into the House and correct the record.
We believe Mr Barnett is the most recent Minister to mislead Parliament.
The most recent NAB State Update for Tasmania confirms that the forestry sector is in continued structural decline.
All the growth in forestry in Tasmania is via FSC certified plantation timber and this has precisely zero to do with anything the Liberals have done in the forestry space.
An analysis of Tasmania's forestry sector undertaken by the Department of State Growth in October 2014 states there were 1155 people employed in the native forestry sector in November 2013, down from 3459 in August 2006.
The decline in native forest logging began a decade ago because globally, customers have rejected timber sourced from high conservation value forests. That decline continues to this day.
Mr Barnett needs to present the proof of his claim, or come into Parliament, apologise for misleading the House and correct the record.