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National Parks
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Wild Drake's Non Response to Thousands of TasmaniansWild Drake Pty Ltd’s wannabe heli-tourism proponent has delivered yet another insult to the intelligence of reasonable, wilderness loving Tasmanians Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 27 Apr 2023 |
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kooparoona niara - Aboriginal National ParkIn March last year the Aboriginal Land Council formally claimed ownership of the kooparoona niara-Great Western Tiers area. Cassy O'Connor MP | Parliamentary Activity | 27 Oct 2022 |
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Wilderness Defenders Will Never Give Up on Lake MalbenaOverwhelmingly, Tasmanians don’t support privatisation of protected areas and they reject what this opportunist developer is offering. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 21 Sep 2022 |
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Failed Parks Policy Needs to be Thrown on the Scrapheap2673 Tasmanians have signed a petition from the Wilderness Guides Association to stop the commercial exploitation of national parks, reserves and the TWWHA. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 17 Aug 2022 |
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Estimates Reply - PetrusmaToday I will mostly focus on the Parks area of minister Petrusma's multiple portfolios. Cassy O'Connor MP | Parliamentary Activity | 15 Jun 2022 |
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Greens Move to Disallow kooparoona niara ProclamationThe path to reconciliation has been slow, painful and full of disappointment for Aboriginal Tasmanians. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 16 Jun 2022 |
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Liberals Finally Move to Inadequately Protect Threatened Forests inside TWWHAA decade after the TFA was signed and the TWWHA extended under the Labor Green government, the Liberals have moved to formally protect forests inside the TWWHA. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 2 Jun 2022 |
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Liberal Leadership Renewal an Opportunity for a ResetOn behalf of the Greens, I warmly congratulate Jeremy Rockliff on becoming Tasmania’s 47th Premier and Michael Ferguson on his elevation to Deputy Premier. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 8 Apr 2022 |
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Liberals Must Rule Out Public Money to Experience Co’s South Coast Track Luxury DevelopmentExperience Co, has confirmed a draft Reserve Activity Assessment to develop five star luxury lodges along the South Coast Track has been submitted to Parks. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 10 Mar 2022 |
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Petrusma Labels TWWHA Cultural Assessment ‘Impractical and Unnecessary’The Liberals are running roughshod over the wishes of UNESCO and any spirit of consensus building with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 3 Mar 2022 |
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Greens, Conservationists Ready to Fight Privatisation of South Coast TrackTo privitise and sanitise the South Coast Track would destroy its integrity and the increasingly rare experience of wild-ness. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 24 Feb 2022 |
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Olegas Truchanas’ Legacy Lives OnOn 6 January 1972, world renowned photographer, Olegas Truchanas, died on the Franklin River in the wilderness he so loved. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 6 Jan 2022 |
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Barnett Confirms Plan to Lock Up Tasmanians Protesting to Protect WildernessIn Estimates today, Guy Barnett, confirmed the reworked anti-protest laws will capture all those protesting against developments in public protected areas. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 9 Sep 2021 |
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Parks’ Assessment Changes an Admission of Liberals’ EOI FailureThe Liberals’ announcement today, about changes to the Reserve Activity Assessments in national parks and reserves, is a good first step. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 9 Sep 2021 |
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Greens Table Legislation to Improve Transparency on Public Protected AreasThe Greens tabled the Right to Information (Public Protected Areas) Amendment Bill 2021 in Parliament today. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 1 Jul 2021 |
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Greens' Plan to Better Protect Parks and Promote Sustainable TourismLutruwita/Tasmania’s world class national parks and reserves are under threat from a Liberal Government that can only see the dollar signs they bring in. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 27 Apr 2021 |
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Liberals and Labor Back Secretive Wilderness DestructionRevelations there are 60 Expressions of Interest for tourist developments in public protected areas will shock many. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 13 Apr 2021 |
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Greens Welcome Defeat of Draconian Anti-Protest LawsThe right to peaceful protest remains protected in Tasmania, following defeat of the Liberals’ draconian, unconstitutional anti-protest amendment Bill. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 25 Mar 2021 |
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Leaked DPIPWE Letter Confirms Anti-Protest Laws Designed to Crack Down on National Parks ProtestsLeaked correspondence from February 2019 between then DPIPWE Secretary, John Whittington, to then Justice Secretary, Kathrine Morgan-Wicks makes clear the start Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 24 Mar 2021 |
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Jaensch Can’t Stay Silent on Lake Malbena LeaseOn 19 January 2018, just before the last State Election, the Liberals secretly signed off on the leases over Reg Hall’s hut and the entirety of Halls Island. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 4 Mar 2021 |
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Greens Table Petition to Protect ParksThe Greens today proudly tabled a petition signed by nearly 2,000 people to protect Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves from privatisation. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 15 Oct 2020 |
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Has Roger Jaensch Backflipped on Parks Review?Former Premier and Parks Minister, Will Hodgman, claimed the Reserve Activity Assessment (RAA) process was ‘under review’. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 23 Sep 2020 |
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Auditor General Confirms Corrupted EOI Process for Development in Protected AreasThe Auditor-General’s Report into the Expressions of Interest process for Tourism Investment Opportunities is a damning assessment of the EOI and RAA process. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 22 Sep 2020 |
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Lake Malbena EPBC Assessment a Reprieve for the WildernessThe Federal Environment Minister’s determination that the Lake Malbena luxury helicopter tourism development warrants a formal assessment is welcome. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 17 Sep 2020 |
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Jaensch Leaves Parks' Tanks Half Full, Unprepared for BushfireTasmanians will be left feeling disturbed after Minister Jaensch confirmed Parks and Wildlife's current vehicle fleet is unfit for fighting bushfires. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 17 Sep 2020 |
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Wilderness Defenders Will Never Give Up on Lake MalbenaThe development at Halls Island in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park is a travesty of proper process. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 28 Jul 2020 |
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Hapless DPIPWE Secretary Reduced to Pleas for Departmental LoyaltyDPIPWE Secretary, Tim Baker, has been reduced to begging disaffected staff to show loyalty to Parks Manager, Jason Jacobi. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 24 Jul 2020 |
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Fallow Deer Goal Must Be EradicationAny move by Minister Barnett to commercialise the use of deer meat must have eradication of feral deer from the landscape as its goal. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 10 Jun 2020 |
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Unlocking of Green Spaces WelcomeThe Greens welcome the Premier’s announcement that Tasmania’s green spaces will be open to locals from this coming Monday. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 8 May 2020 |
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Liberals' Feral Deer Mismanagement a Growing ThreatTasmania’s feral deer numbers are increasing due to State Government policy that encourages population growth. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 27 Apr 2020 |
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Illegal Clearing in TWWHA Must Be InvestigatedThe illegal tracking cutting on the shores of Lake Malbena in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park and adjoining lakes is a scandal and a crime against nature. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 17 Jan 2020 |
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Liberals' Blatant EOI Greenwash AttemptThe Hodgman Government are spending $40 000 of public funds on this study to try to take the heat out of their privatisation of public protected areas. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 12 Dec 2019 |
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Another Opaque EOI Proposal, More Public FundsThe Greens questioned Parks Minister Gutwein about another secretive EOI project in a protected area and the apparent expenditure of public monies to enable it. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 3 Dec 2019 |
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Record National Parks Visitors Reinforce Need to Protect Wilderness ValuesWhile being able to share our protected areas with visitors is a positive, the Liberals’ ever increasing growth model puts them at risk. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 4 Sep 2018 |
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Redneck Liberals Open National Parks and World Heritage Area for HuntingIt’s clear the Liberals have once again kowtowed to the powerful shooting lobby. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 23 Aug 2018 |
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Recreational Shooting in Protected AreasWe understand this is not about invasive species management, it is about hunting. Cassy O'Connor MP | Parliamentary Activity | 23 Aug 2018 |
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Recreational Shooting in Protected AreasThe Minister has announced that recreational shooters will be allowed into protected areas, including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Cassy O'Connor MP | Parliamentary Activity | 23 Aug 2018 |
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2017 State of the State Address in ReplyWe are now living through a time when the environmental challenges we are facing as an island and as a community are very, very significant. Cassy O'Connor MP | Parliamentary Activity | 8 Mar 2017 |
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Centenary of National Parks Highlights Failures of MinisterParks Minister, Matthew Groom, should admit Tasmania's protected areas are under unprecedented threat as a result of Liberal policies. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 27 Aug 2016 |
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State Budget 2016: Parks Funding Slashed and BurntTthe Budget papers show more than $6 million cut from an already underfunded Parks and Wildlife Service across the forward Estimates. Cassy O'Connor MP | Parliamentary Activity | 1 Jun 2016 |
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Parks Minister Exposed for Gutting PWS Bushfire FundingThe Budget papers show a more than $6M cut to the Parks and Wildlife Service across the forward estimates. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 1 Jun 2016 |
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Farrell Family to Benefit from Liberal Pork BarrelingPrivate interests, among them the Farrell family, are the beneficiaries of $22 million in public funding being promised by the Liberals. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 14 May 2016 |
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Danger to Freycinet National Park RevealedThe full extent of the Liberals' destructive plan for the Freycinet National Park has been revealed by a group of concerned Coles Bay residents. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 24 Mar 2016 |
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Liberals' Freycinet Exploitation PlanParks’ Minister, Matthew Groom, is overseeing a sham consultation process to enable increased exploitation of the fragile Freycinet National Park. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 1 Feb 2016 |
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Liberals Locking Up More National ParksA proposal to double the footprint of Freycinet Lodge in to the Freycinet National Park is yet another Liberal lock up for a selected private developer. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 17 Jan 2016 |
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Three Capes Exclusive MonopolyNot only are individuals being charged the hefty fee of $500 to walk the track, but established eco-tourism operators are being excluded. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 21 Dec 2015 |
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Three Capes Access Still Clear as MudWhat Minister Groom proves every time he speaks is that the development in the Tasman National Park is really there for wealthy visitors. Cassy O'Connor MP | Media Release | 22 Sep 2015 |
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No Secret Deals for Tassie's WHA!Minister for Parks Matthew Groom's claim that he is being open and transparent is laughable. Nick Mckim | Media Release | 14 Feb 2015 |
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End Parks Development SecrecyThe Department of State Growth has denied our Right to Information request seeking location details of the 37 proposals submitted to government. Nick Mckim | Media Release | 21 Jan 2015 |
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Tasmanian Parks & ReservesThe agreement between the tourism industry and the Parks Service is a dangerous shift in the way Tasmania's World Heritage Area and National Parks are managed. Nick Mckim | Media Release | 7 Dec 2014 |
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Threat to National ParksHistory has shown that the Greens were right to champion our protected areas as a key foundation for the tourism sector. Nick Mckim | Media Release | 16 Sep 2014 |