Election Update - Opportunity for major environmental gains in Tasmania and South Australia

In the lead up to the Tasmanian and South Australian elections, hard work by the Wilderness Society has contributed to opportunities for important gains for our natural heritage in these states.
 
The South Australian team have played an important role in significantly strengthening the environmental policies of the Liberal party and achieved strong commitments on marine protected areas and wilderness protection in the Nullarbor and Simpson Dessert from both the Labor and Liberal parties. No matter who wins government in South Australia we can look forward to important gains for wilderness in that state.
 
We are also seeing the culmination of decades of work to protect Tasmania’s forests and put the timber industry onto a more sustainable and socially acceptable footing.

Magnificent trees like these in Tasmania's Upper Florentine were at grave risk of logging - but will now be protected by the new Statement of Principles

The Wilderness Society contributed to a campaign under the banner of Our Common Ground, a coalition of environment groups and prominent Tasmanians. This included a very effective advertising campaign reminding people that they needed a government which would defend the environment over the interests of big business. The Wilderness Society Tasmania and the forest team joined with colleagues from Environment Tasmania to play an important role.
 
The public exhibited an undeniable mood for change and the Greens have significantly increased their vote and won the balance of power in Tasmania. This can only be good for the environment and Tasmania now has an unprecedented opportunity to finally resolve the conflict over logging our precious native forests.

With the logging industry in crisis and world markets rejecting our native forest products, the message from voters is that we need a new approach to forestry and politics in Tasmania. This election has been a watershed where old-style political thinking has fallen and politicians can no longer put the logging industry’s interests ahead of those of the Tasmanian community.

Thanks to our colleagues in Our Common Ground, volunteers, members and supporters and all who have worked for Tasmania’s forests over many years.
 
Right now there is a unique opportunity to protect Tasmania's forest once and for all. With your support we will continue to focus our energy and resources on capitalizing on these opportunities in both states.