The State Opposition will vote against a plan to overhaul the management of Tasmania’s reserve system. Source: ABC News
The State Government wants to split up Forestry Tasmania, handing about 220,000 hectares of forest reserves to a new parks and reserves authority.
The new body would also potentially control another 500,000 hectares of forest, which are yet to be permanently reserved under the forest peace deal.
The Opposition’s Peter Gutwein said the plan would remove accountability and is a waste of money.
“Once again we’ve got Labor and the Greens establishing another unaccountable, unelected board, creating another level of bureaucracy, that will do nothing to ensure that Tasmanians have the opportunity to enjoy and to use our natural assets,” he said.
The Environment Minister Brian Wightman says the changes are timely and necessary.
“Under the current Act, that National Parks Act, the Secretary is the authority.
“What will change is the Minister will become the authority, and then be able to delegate tasks to the Board, which will then be able to provide a strategic vision for the parks and reserves system in Tasmania,” the Minister said.
Forestry Tasmania will retain control of 800,000 hectares of production forests. The changes are yet to be approved by Parliament
