Rosalie Woodruff MP – Greens Leader
As the West Coast fires continue to burn, the Greens offer our deepest thanks to all those who continue to work so hard to protect communities and our globally unique environment.
Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by these fires in some way. Even with the amazing assistance and advice provided by emergency services, there’s no doubt the experience for people in the area will have been incredibly frightening and stressful.
While we hope for the best as the fires continue to burn, reports are now coming in from the ground about devastating damage to some of our state’s most environmentally significant locations. We share the anxiety and pain of the Tasmanian community as we await official confirmation of the extent of the damage.
Tasmanians care deeply about our island home and understand the national and global significance the Wilderness World Heritage Area and the Takayna/Tarkine region. Loss of irreplaceable landscapes within these areas is nothing short of an environmental tragedy.
We wish emergency response crews all the best as they continue their tireless efforts.
Tabatha Badger MP – Greens Police, Fire and Emergency Management spokesperson
The Greens are so grateful to everyone who has been working tirelessly to try to control these fires and keep communities safe under incredibly difficult circumstances.
What we have seen is a stark reminder of why Tasmania, and Australia as a whole, needs to keep working to modernise our firefighting capacity to cope with the reality of climate change.
Given these fires have directly impacted residents of some West Coast towns, we’re glad to see the government has made grants available for those who have had to leave their homes.
There will also be impacts on local business and tourism operators so we urge the Government to consider what other support can be offered to those whose livelihood may be affected.
As reports start to emerge of the damage to some of this island’s most precious areas and irreplaceable natural values, we know many Tasmanians will be shocked and share a great sorrow. Words can never do justice in describing how special places like Takayna and the World Heritage area are, nor can words describe the terrible loss that we hear has occurred.
