The Liberals have released their response to the State of the Environment Report on the eve of the Christmas holiday period, in a textbook case of lack of transparency on Tasmania’s environment. In an appalling response to the State of the Environment Report, the Liberal Government have provided no new initiatives or signalled new funding to improve the declining condition of Tasmania’s precious environment.
The decade-overdue State of the Environment Report showed that nearly two thirds of key environmental indicators were in decline or poor. It’s no surprise given the Liberal’s mismanagement and cheerleading of vested interests who have been destroying Tasmania’s environment for the last decade. In a biodiversity and climate crisis, something needed to change.
The poor state of Tasmania’s environment should’ve been a wakeup call for the Rockliff Government. The Liberals response to the State of the Environment Report shows just how little they care about Tasmania’s environment, and all of those who rely on it.
In their response, the Liberals simply point to the actions they already have in place for managing Tasmania’s environment. They’ve provided no new funding or initiatives to improve the health of Tasmania’s environment. It’s a completely inadequate response, which will see Tasmania’s environment continue to decline.
Out of 16 recommendations, the Liberals have only accepted 6 in full. The Rockliff Government have outright refused to implement clear and sensible recommendations to improve Tasmania’s environment, including the expansion of formal reserves on public land and waters and the removal of protections for a pest species, fallow deer.
The Liberals need to get serious about protecting Tasmania’s precious environment. We need a real response to the state of Tasmania’s environment, which sees new programs and funding to protect Tasmania’s unique native species, forests, waters and coasts.
