Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
For a decade you and your Liberal colleagues have called the Greens and the environmental movement kooky, anti-everything extremists, all while you have been trashing our forests, coastlines, protected areas and waterways and changing the law to lock up those who resist your crimes against nature. You have covered up your perfidy, breaking the law and refusing to table this tragic State of the Environment report until it was forced onto you by environmental defenders.
Will you accept and implement all the recommendations in the State of the Environment report? Was that part of Cabinet’s decision on Monday, or will you consider business as usual and have your legacy be one of policy destruction and extinctions? If you refuse to change direction, will you today apologise to the future Tasmanians and generations who you are betraying with your political pillage?
Mr Shelton – How many questions can you have?
The SPEAKER – To answer the member for Lyons, there were four questions in that one, so I will call the Premier to answer them. It is annoying when somebody actually writes down the questions, is it not?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for the question. For the record, I have not mentioned ‘kooky’ once today. It was the member herself who mentioned ‘kooky’. We are looking forward to the Budget reply and alternative budget of the Greens. We will get one and it may well be left of centre – if I can put it that way. I also say that the State of the Environment report only landed with Cabinet this week and we will give it due consideration. I will take great interest in it.
I also reject the premise of your question very clearly. I know it is good politics for the Greens when it comes to getting rid of salmon, mining and forestry, but it has enormous social consequences for people’s wellbeing, on families and on communities. To do what you want us to do will wreck the social fabric of Tasmania, and we will not do that. We will always have sensible and sustainable management of our resources based on continuous improvement.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker.
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – The Premier did not answer the main question.
Mr Abetz – What, the kooky bit?
Dr WOODRUFF – Will he accept and implement all the recommendations of the State of the Environment report that the minister has had for much longer than Cabinet?
Mr Abetz – He has answered that.
The SPEAKER – Thank you, Leader of the Greens. You cannot make an argument in the supplementary question.
The Leader of the House did not need to interject in the way he did during that question and does not wish to be warned, I am sure. I will draw the Premier to the question about whether the government will accept and implement all the recommendations.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I believe I answered the question. We will seek advice and give the report due consideration.
Dr Woodruff – When?
The SPEAKER – Thank you. You cannot yell out ‘When’, Leader of the Greens. You get latitude as a leader as well, and I ask that you provide the standard that you expect of others in interjecting.
