Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[10.35 a.m.]
The independent review of Tasmania’s Climate Change (State Action) Act was released yesterday. It supported what the Greens and community groups have been saying for years: since your government has come to office, you haven’t brought down Tasmania’s emissions. In fact, they’ve actually increased. Your government has been relying on Tasmania’s carbon storing native forests to claim net zero status. Your logging and burning of native forests means Tasmania could lose our net zero status before 2030. It’s a climate crisis and Tasmania has to cut its emissions and protect carbon-storing native forests. Do you acknowledge the review’s finding that your government has failed to bring down emissions? Will you increase them by continuing to log and burn native forests? Will you accept that that is part of the problem?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question and appreciate the sentiment expressed in it. The fact is that Tasmania is well renowned for our natural environment, for net zero and for our renewable energy capacity which we’re going to increase and grow.
We value-add the products we produce through our reputation in many respects when it comes to our premium products, our clever people, whether it’s in advanced manufacturing, food production, viticulture, whatever it might be, innovation. Our natural environment and the fact that we are net zero and all our environmental credentials adds value to what we do in that premium space. We’re well known for it.
The independent review of the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 was informed by a range of community and stakeholder perspectives and I want to thank everyone who provided that feedback. Our immediate priority is to continue delivering strong climate outcomes for Tasmania and responses to the independent review’s findings and recommendations will be embedded in government operations.
Our act includes the most ambitious emissions reduction target of any jurisdiction in Australia and we’re very proud to have maintained our net zero status since 2014. I’m proud of that fact, as I am proud of our forebears, both those who built our hydro schemes and those within this Chamber who made it happen as well.
That is the fact of it. We have enormous capacity for renewable energy, being the battery of the nation with our hydro storage and we seek to add value to that in partnership with the Australian Government when it comes to Marinus, which has been supported across political divides nationally in terms of unity of purpose and the opportunity that presents for Tasmania. Our renewable energy capacity will not just add value to the products we make and grow, but also our bottom line when Marinus comes on board and the average of $470 million a year bottom line is well evidenced there in the business case.
Mr BAYLEY – What about native forest logging, Premier? That’s the question.
The SPEAKER – Order, Greens deputy leader.
Mr ROCKLIFF – When it comes to native forest logging, we are a very strong supporter of sustainable native forestry and our commitment is built on generations of evidence-based –
The SPEAKER – The honourable Premier’s time has expired.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – There was a lot in there from the Premier about the importance of our net zero status in adding value to everything we sell and tourism on this island. Premier, back to the question: do you acknowledge that native forest logging is now threatening not only climate emissions and the environment from logging and burning but also threatening our net zero status by 2030.?
The SPEAKER – The honourable member’s time has expired.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I understand your advocacy. Thank you for the supplementary question. I refer to where I was going in my previous answer. Many of the forests being protested by your supporters today are mistaken for pristine old-growth forest when, in fact, they are regrowth forests that have been harvested sometimes multiple times in the past, which I believe is damaging to the credibility of those who are engaging in that protest.
To the point of your question, strengthening climate governance by reviewing and refreshing the Climate Change Reference Group, updating its terms of reference, maintaining the existing four-year independent review of the cycles of the act, enhancing focus on climate.
Dr WOODRUFF – Point of order, 45, relevance. None of this is about native forest logging. It’s causing us to lose our net zero status, it’s emitting carbon into the atmosphere. Do you accept it’s part of the problem?
The SPEAKER – Well, the Premier now has one second to answer.
