Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for PARKS and ENVIRONMENT, Mr DUIGAN
As you know, your government was dragged kicking and screaming to produce a State of the Environment report, breaking two statutory deadlines in the process. We now have the 2024 State of the Environment report and, as you would be aware, the environment has significantly declined across a number of key areas: sea surface temperature, kelp, threatened marine fish, changes to the coastline, salt marshes and migratory shore birds.
It is a sign that after 10 years of Liberal government, the environment is going backwards. As the minister for Environment, do you accept that business as usual is not the way to respond to environmental challenges? Will you take up championing these recommendations inside government so that they are adopted, implemented and funded for the future health of this island, its people and its economy?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the member for her question and her longstanding interest in these matters. The State Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future outlines the commitments to protecting our state’s much-loved natural environment. The State of the Environment report is an important means of documenting baseline data, trends and risks across our state. The independent Tasmanian Planning Commission carried out the important work and the government thanks them for it.
As mentioned in the question, the State of the Environment report makes 16 recommendations across a range of areas including waterways, protecting threatened species, fire management, biosecurity and invasive species. The government recognises that this is a significant body of work. We are committed to sustainable management of our environment while also continuing to pursue economic development opportunities, ensuring Tasmania remains the best place to live, work and raise a family.
Our government is currently reviewing the report – its detailed findings and recommendations – and we will prepare a thorough government response to all the recommendations in due course. I reiterate that we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting Tasmania’s pristine natural environment. We have more than $736 million in funding for parks and environment initiatives over the next four years, and this includes more than $44 million in the next year for our environmental management, analytical services and threatened species. This is $14 million more funding than the previous year.
We will be doing a good deal of work to prepare our response to this important piece of work and, as Environment minister, I will have a significant role to play in that.
