Congratulations to Lisa Singh on ministerial appointment

The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
Media Release
26th November 2008

The Wilderness Society today offered its congratulations to Lisa Singh on her recent appointment as minister in the Bartlett government. Ms Singh has displayed independence, ethics and a preparedness to stand up to poor party policy and we hope she can offer much needed support for the new direction Premier Bartlett has been promising Tasmanians.

The promotion of Ms Singh, who refused to toe ex-Premier Paul Lennon’s line on the pulp mill and abstained from voting for the fast-track approval of the mill, comes at a time when the government is attempting to distance itself from Gunns’ proposal and has begun delivering on the promise to end all government support for the mill.

“Lisa Singh has proven she is an independent thinker who is not prepared to bow down to political bullying and could prove to be an important voice in a government desperately trying to put  poor performances  behind it,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society.

“At a time when Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government need to break free of the shackles of the pulp mill debacle, a new voice in cabinet who is prepared to speak her mind could prove critically important.

“We wish Lisa well and look forward to seeing her work towards the ‘renewal’ of the government that has been promised.”  

The Bartlett government has recently begun the promised task of distancing itself from Gunns’ environmentally destructive pulp mill. Decisions to axe the pulp mill steering committee and rule out help with the pulp-mill pipeline are welcome and a positive step forward.

‘We hope Ms Singh can continue to encourage government action, and help bring about the promised end to all government support for the mill, including the end to the wood-supply deal covering public native forests.”

In welcoming Ms Singh’s appointment, The Wilderness Society expressed concern that the corresponding portfolio re-shuffle delivered planning to David Llewellyn, who now holds all portfolios that relate to the development and facilitation of resource extraction activities.

“Minister Llewellyn holds all the cards and could prove a major blockage to Tasmania moving away from an unhealthy dependence on environmentally destructive resource industries. New blood with new ideas should be given every opportunity to help move Tasmania forward,” concluded Mr Bayley.