The funding announced by Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke is at best $90 million short of the ask by signatories to the so-called forestry peace deal according to Senator Richard Colbeck. Sources: Timberbiz, ABC News
“This is, and always has been, a dud deal for Tasmania and it just gets worse,” said Senator Colbeck, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry.
He said the proposed funding made no allowance for the impact of this process on:
• mining;
• farming;
• fine design and furniture;
• tourism;
• honey producers;
• the craft sector;
• transport; or
• civil construction and engineering.
“The suggestion by Minister Burke that this does not impact on any other industry is absurd,” Senator Colbeck said.
“Just because the forest sector said they were not negotiating on behalf of any other sector doesn’t mean they will not be impacted.
“The proposed declaration of world heritage areas and national parks is proof of that.
“The proposed deal will impact on up to 100,000ha of Tasmania’s 650,000ha of agricultural land if
plantations to replace native forest are established.”
Senator Colbeck said no socio-economic modelling of this process had been completed and yet Tasmanians were being pressured into a deal to lock up 52% of the State.
“Why has the Government not done any research on the potential impacts?” Senator Colbeck said.
Tasmanian Independent MLC Paul Harriss says he will move to have the forest peace deal legislation investigated by a parliamentary committee.
The member for Huon says he cannot support the deal to protect another half a million hectares of forest from logging and significantly downsize the native timber industry.
The vote on Tasmania’s forestry peace deal bill in the state’s Upper House remains tight. The division now stands at seven in favour of the landmark agreement and seven against, with eight votes needed to make it law.
“This is unequivocal in my mind the most significant bill which I have confronted in
16 and a half years in this place because as I said at the outset, it goes to so
many issues, not just forestry,” Harriss said.
