Dr WOODRUFF question to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT and PARKS, Mr DUIGAN
We understand that you will be doing media today on the delisting of some animals and plants from Tasmania’s threatened species list. That is welcome, but while you are celebrating the delisting, your government is also ramping up its plan to log and burn critical native forest habitat. Your science-denying forestry minister is planning to open up 39,000 hectares of high conservation forests, home to critically endangered and threatened species like the swift parrot, Tasmanian devil, masked owl, wedge tailed eagle and so many more. These reserved forests are yours to sign off for logging. No one wants species to be removed from the threatened species list because they go extinct. Do you accept that signing away this critical reserve forest habitat will push precious species towards extinction?
Mr ABETZ – Honourable speaker, a point of order. I ask for your ruling, whether this question pre-empts the notice of motion put forward by the Greens, which is an order of the day. It covers exactly the same topic.
The SPEAKER – It is not unusual for a question to go there. I will seek some advice. I do need the order of the day in front of me, if you would not mind resuming your seat while I get a copy of the notice of motion.
The question I have written down is broader than the specific motion. One of the things that we allow in Question Time is the ability to discuss matters that are of public interest, despite the fact they may be listed on the paper. As a further bit of information, any tabled bill is therefore an order of the day and not just if they are on the blue. What we would not want to do is restrict debate on all matters simply because a member has put a matter on the parliamentary record. With that, the question is in order.
Dr Woodruff – Desperate attempt to not answer questions about forests.
The SPEAKER – Thank you. I have called him so we will allow him the opportunity to answer the question. Thank you, Leader of the Greens.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for the question. As a point of clarification, I am not doing media today on any points of threatened species delisting. I will be hoping to share some very positive news about the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. I welcome their input into that, just to set that straight.
The Tasmanian government remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting Tasmanians pristine natural environment and protecting our unique species.
Dr Woodruff – To the question, minister.
Mr DUIGAN – I would point to some very positive news of recent times about the delisting of certain species you have referenced in your question , which is good news. It is very good news and points to a well-managed and well stewarded environment –
Dr Woodruff – Meanwhile, are you going to sign off a whole bunch of species to extinction?
Mr DUIGAN – Amongst those species is the iconic humpback whale, you might be interested to know. Another species also, which is very important to the Tasmanian way of life, the southern bluefin tuna. Many members of the Chamber would be pleased to hear that those species are emerging from a position of some threat to a much healthier and more sustainable population.
In our 2020 Strong Plan, we committed $8 million over four years to establish a Tasmanian Threatened Species Fund to directly support conservation activities for priority species, including but not limited to the Maugean skate, swift parrot, and the Tasmanian eagle. Work is underway on how this new fund can best support the protection and recovery of threatened species. Tasmania is renowned around the world for its rich biodiversity and unique plants and animals –
Dr WOODRUFF – Point of order, Speaker.
The SPEAKER – The minister will cease while I take the point of order.
Dr WOODRUFF – Standing Order 45, relevance. The question was about the 39,000 hectares of critical habitat that you will sign away or not, and do you accept it could drive species to extinction?
The SPEAKER – Thank you.
Mr Abetz – Which is exactly the notice of motion.
The SPEAKER – Thank you. It is, but if everything that was – I will stop the clock again and the Leader of the House can come and talk to me about this later if he would like to.
Dr Woodruff – That is right. He should learn how this parliament works.
The SPEAKER – Thank you, Leader of the Greens, I am tempted to get an answer to your question. That will cease if you continue interjecting.
Leader of the House, I am happy to talk to you about it later but if every matter that was published as an order for the future was not able to be mentioned, this would be a very short Question Time indeed.
Minister, your first two minutes has gone to addressing the preamble. I draw you to the question now.
Mr DUIGAN – Thank you, Honourable Speaker. I note that the question dealt very heavily with the issue of Tasmania’s threatened species. As minister for Environment, that is the area where I have a responsibility, so that is the area of the question I would seek to address. The other area of the question is a matter for my colleague minister. As the minister for Parks, I have nothing in front of me in relation to the matters you have raised in your question. That is where I am at. I have nothing in front of me. That may change in coming weeks and months but, as of today, that is the case. I point to some very positive news in the threatened species space. I talk to our government’s continued –
The SPEAKER – The time for answering the question has expired.
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary.
Dr WOODRUFF – I hear the minister’s reluctance. What I asked him was, does he accept that signing away this critical reserve forest habitat would push threatened species to extinction? It is not about what is in front of him. Does he accept that –
The SPEAKER – I am sorry. It was not the answer you would like to have heard and not the answer you were trying to get at. However, I cannot in good faith say that the minister did not address the question in the range of capacity he has. A question to another minister may elicit another response.
