Rosalie Woodruff MP, Tasmanian Greens Leader
After being shamed and forced into admitting the truth on national television, Resources Minister Felix Ellis has come out swinging. He’s launched into his traditional attack mode politics on conservationists, and noted his ‘disappointment’ in industry in passing.
Being ‘disappointed’ in industry is irrelevant. And it’s not enough just to make the change to potential future contracts. Exports of public native forest logs to Victoria are happening now.
The Liberals must ensure this stops immediately. Neville Smith Forest Products should be required to surrender his contract for native forest logs. This company should not be receiving any native forest logs after the ABC revealed it has been supplying ‘surplus’ logs to Victoria.
The Four Corners exposed both the Resources Minister and Forestry Tasmania have been dishonest about the export of Tasmanian logs to Victorian mills. We also know not all logs from public native forests are being processed in Tasmania – which was also promised by government and Forestry Tasmania.
The Greens have been asking questions about this for years, because community members have reported seeing log truck after log truck queued for the Spirits. How can it be that Minister Ellis was surprised?
If he was so out to lunch, we suggest the Minister commence an investigation into how this scandal apparently slipped under his nose.
Senator Nick McKim, Australian Greens Forests Spokesperson
Taxpayers should not be paying to ship native forest destruction around the country.
The first step is simple: stop the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme from subsidising transport across Bass Strait of logs from native forests.
The second step is just as obvious: use the new EPBC laws to end native forest logging once and for all.
For too long this industry has survived on special treatment, political favours and public subsidies.
Native forests should be protected for their carbon, wildlife and cultural value, not sacrificed to keep a destructive industry on life support.
