Tasmania’s independent-dominated Upper House has delayed a final vote on the Government’s signature policy to tear up the forest peace deal. Source: ABC News
The bid to reclassify 400,000 hectares of native forest so it can be reopened to broad-scale logging in six years’ time was set to be debated in the Upper House from today.
But the Government introduced 15 pages of amendments to the bill and MLCs delayed the vote so they could have more time to digest the changes. Some are angry they were not given more time.
Greens MP Cassy O’Connor has called on them to take even longer considering the proposal.
“At the very least this should go to a committee of the Legislative Council so that all the issues can be canvassed, so that we can hear from clear heads in the forestry industry about what the impact will be on the future of the industry in Tasmania,” she said.
The Government’s leader in the Upper House, Vanessa Goodwin, said the changes would make it easier for the specialty timbers sector to access wood from certain areas.
Dr Goodwin said the industry was concerned it would have to comply with Forestry Tasmania’s management standards.
“The Government has therefore taken the decision to move amendments to Clause 11/3 to remove the reference to Forestry Tasmania’s Forest Management Certification and require the Crown Lands Minister to consult with the Minister administering the bill,” she said.
There was concern the move could jeopardise Forestry Tasmania’s bid for international Forest Stewardship Certification.
It is expected the vote on the bill will be close, and may not happen until next week.
