Dr WOODRUFF question to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY AND RESOURCES, Mr ERIC ABETZ
In the past month, protesters have been doing what they can to prevent logging in the Arthur River forests. More than 100 people from all walks of life had joined actions on the ground. This is a precious part of the takayna region. In just 10 days, 111 masked owls –
The SPEAKER – The minister might do better if he listens to the question.
Dr WOODRUFF – – were recorded in the area. On Saturday, The Examiner published a photo of one of these endangered birds at the site. As you know, the Tasmanian masked owl is an endangered species and only a few hundred breeding pairs are left in the wild. Logging is the major threat to the survival of this special bird. The Forest Practices Authority’s technical guidelines identify clearing of its habitat as the main threat to the population.
Given a masked owl breeding pair has been identified inside the Arthur River logging area, will you direct STT to pause operations at the coupe and undertake a comprehensive site survey for a threatened species?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, let us be very clear in relation to the protests that are taking place. Workers are entitled to have a safe place of work.
Members – Hear, hear.
Mr ABETZ – You can have your protest without endangering or inconveniencing our fellow Tasmanians who earn their living from the forests. That is a fundamental point. I simply put to those from the Greens in particular, if people objected to what you were doing in this place, and therefore chained themselves to your house or to your office door so you could not get access to undertake your work of the day, I am sure you would be the first to complain – and you would be entitled to complain. What I suggest to you is that it is a two‑way street in relation to civility and protest within our community.
Dr Woodruff – It is about protecting a threatened species. On the masked owl, minister.
Mr ABETZ – Protest is appropriate, but it has to be done within civil boundaries, something which the Greens –
Dr WOODRUFF – Point of order, 45, relevance. Honourable Speaker, the minister is diverging extraordinarily from the question. It is about the masked owl and whether he will direct STT to stop operations to protect it.
The SPEAKER – I have been drawn by the Leader of Government Business to the requirements of Standing Order 45 to provide some leniency. However, having had that leniency, I am sure the minister is about to address the question around the masked owl.
Mr ABETZ – Thank you, Speaker. I can understand the sensitivity of the Leader of the Greens, but the question started by talking about protests and it is to that matter that I was addressing my commentary. When you have a question that goes for a full 60 seconds trying to throw absolutely everything into it, you cannot then demand that I only answer one part of the question.
As we all know in this place, when the forest coupe is to be harvested, it is for the Forest Practices Authority to determine, by expert assessment, whether or not it is appropriate for that coupe to be harvested. In those circumstances, if somebody sitting here in this parliament representing a southern seat somehow believes that she knows better than the experts who make these assessments, then she can be under that delusion, but I say to the people of Tasmania that the Forest Practices Authority might have a better handle on these things than the Tasmanian Greens.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker.
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr Woodruff – This is new information –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Without argument, the supplementary question is?
Dr WOODRUFF – This is new information. Will you intervene on the basis of this and pause to protect the masked owl so an assessment can be done?
The SPEAKER – I will call the minister, because the original question – whilst it did have conversation which the minister has addressed in its lead – was about whether there will be a review in relation to the masked owls. That is now the supplementary.
Mr ABETZ – Of course I will not intervene because the people that are responsible for these for these matters –
Dr Woodruff – You do not care about them. Thank you.
Mr ABETZ – They are better qualified than the Leader of the Greens, or indeed myself. That is why we have these assessments made, for and on behalf of our forests, the people of Tasmania and the jobs that are created from our forest sector. Will I intervene? No, I will not.
Dr Woodruff – Well, thank you to the peaceful protesters. We will be doing our best to protect the owls because you will do nothing.
The SPEAKER – Thank you very much, Leader of the Greens. I try to get ministers to answer questions, therefore I need people to abide by the standing orders on interjections please. I call the Independent member for Braddon, who, by the way, does not spend his entire time interjecting and slowing down proceedings of the House.
