Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Aboriginal elder, filmmaker and political activist Jim Everett-puralia meenamatta (TBC) has been charged and is facing imprisonment under your draconian anti‑protest laws simply for standing up against destruction of forests on Aboriginal country in the Styx Valley. Peaceful protesters at Arthur River are putting their bodies on the line to protect takayna’s wilderness, all while Forestry Tasmania’s unlicensed security sabotage their vehicles. On the weekend, police were called to a forest flotilla on the river when peaceful protesters were subject to harassment and aggressive behaviour from people in motor boats driving at canoes and kayaks. Trees in the Florentine and Styx valleys have been graffitied with inflammatory slogans like ‘Shoot a Green’. You have appointed a climate denier to your Cabinet as minister for Resources. Will you pull your hard‑right Cabinet colleagues into line or will you take responsibility for restarting Tasmania’s divisive and hateful forest wars?
Madam SPEAKER – I will call the Premier and remind members that it is much easier if I can hear the question while it is being asked so I can ensure it has been answered.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Dr Woodruff, the only people that are being divisive are you. Here we are trying to create a mixed and diverse economy and support that, forestry included, if I take up one of the points of your question. Forestry, mining, agriculture, aquaculture – I know you do not support a single job in each of those areas. The Greens do not support a single job when it comes to our resource‑based sector.
You can have all the personal attacks if you like and go through every single one of our philosophies and how we voted and all sorts of things. The fact is we are a united team when it comes to our resource‑based sector, when it comes to forestry, mining, aquaculture and agriculture. They are the lifeblood of rural and regional communities, throughout the west coast the north-west and all regions of Tasmania that have such important resource‑based sector jobs that support the local economy.
These are important because the other areas that you advocate for in terms of investment in child protection, health, paramedics, better schools and more teachers, money does not grow on trees. You have to get the dough from somewhere. It comes from a growing economy, particularly our resource‑based sector. We support a mixed and diverse economy and all the environmental guidelines, approvals and processes that go with it.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary, reminding you that the question was about the forest wars.
Dr WOODRUFF – Even if you do not support the behaviour of peaceful protesters defending the wilderness, will you condemn people who promote shooting a Green, barge at boats and sabotage vehicles?
Madam SPEAKER – Premier, if you are comfortable taking it – it refers to the question that was asked, but the actual question was about the forest wars, so I will allow it on that basis.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not condone any violence and any communications, whatever the case may be, on any side of any debate. I encourage respectful community dialogue with the facts put on the table and debated.
Dr Woodruff – Will you do something about Forestry Tasmania employing security guards to sabotage protesters’ vehicles?
Madam SPEAKER – Leader of the Greens, you are asking me to make people answer questions. I ask you to adhere to the Standing Orders to not interject. If anyone is wondering, the appropriate interjections are ‘Hear, hear’ and ‘Shame’. Go for your life.
