Tasmania’s Upper House has passed an amendment to the forest peace deal legislation that threatens the historic agreement. Source: ABC
Environmentalists and the timber industry agreed to immediately protect 270,000 hectares of native forest from logging once Parliament enacted the deal.
That has now been thwarted by the Upper House.
Eight MLCs, including the Government’s Craig Farrell, have support Independent MLC Tony Mulder’s push to postpone the permanent protection of the forests until at least the end of October 2014.
The change requires the Forest Stewardship Council to certify Tasmania’s logging practises before the reserves are created.
The Government argues the change does not undermine the deal to secure peace in the forests, despite environmentalists threatening to walk away if it is enacted.
It is unclear whether that is still their position.
Government Minister Cassy O’Connor said the Greens haven’t backed the change.
“Our view is that we will wait to see what amendments pass through the Upper House and what form the bill is in when it’s returned to the Lower House and whether or not it reflects what the signatories have agreed to,” she said.
Former Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown took to twitter saying the Legislative Council has put a chainsaw through the trunk of the forest agreement.
“This Legislative Council in Tasmania thinks it is going to run how other countries treat the Grand Canyon or the Pyramids of Egypt as if it doesn’t matter,” he said.
“It really is an arrogance that is doing Tasmanian enormous harm.” The environmental signatories have been contacted for comment.
