Question
With the recent news that the federal Environment minister has invited the Victorian Government to apply for money from the Emissions Reduction Fund to stop logging the habitat of the critically endangered Leadbeater's possum, will the minister inform the House if any similar offer has been made to Tasmania? If so, which forests and what amount of money was discussed? If not, will the minister now talk to his federal counterpart to find out if the offer also applies to Tasmanian forests that are home to the swift parrot, the Tasmanian devil and other animals and plants facing extinction?
Answer
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I am not aware of any specific discussion that has taken place in relation to that initiative or any discussions that have taken place between the Commonwealth and Victorian Government. I am very happy to follow that up and find out. We have a very strong and constructive engagement with the Commonwealth Government in relation to our natural environment, including our fauna. I can assure the member that is the case. It is a strong and positive engagement. The cooperation we have had with the Australian Government in relation to the Save the Devil program, for example, has been very significant and is ongoing. There will be, as has been alluded to in recent weeks, some very significant developments in the effort to save the Tasmanian devil. That is an ongoing joint initiative, one we are very much committed to. Similarly there have been significant engagements and cooperation in relation to the swift parrot and the orange-bellied parrot. In conclusion, I can assure the member that these are strong commitments by both the Tasmanian and Australian governments. In relation to the Emissions Reduction Fund there have been a number of successful applications to that fund and the Tasmanian Government is working in close cooperation with Tasmanian business and other relevant stakeholders to ensure we are maximising the opportunities for Tasmania under that initiative.