Forestry Tasmania Funding: Money for nothing

Media Release
The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc.
23 September 2011

Environment groups stated it would be an outrage for governments to hand over $11.5 million to Forestry Tasmania whilst it continues to log ancient native forests earmarked for protection under the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement.

“Forestry Tasmania continues new logging and roading in forests that should be protected[1]. Providing them with an $11.5 million cheque will do nothing to halt the logging in forests needing immediate protection” said Vica Bayley from the Wilderness Society.

“This would undermine public confidence in the forests agreement and inflame growing tensions over Forestry Tasmania’s apparent inability, or worse, unwillingness, to re-schedule logging operations out of the forests nominated for immediate protection,” added Mr Bayley.

“Protecting Tasmania’s native forests would provide both a public good for all Australians, together with diversification of our regional economy and supporting communities in transition. This is what justifies the significant investment allocated to the forests agreement,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, Director of Environment Tasmania, “Without the delivery of forests protection, Australian taxpayers have every right to question the expenditure,” he said.

“We will be raising this as an urgent issue with governments and the other signatory groups. Protecting unique and important native forests is a fundamental pillar of this Agreement. Its delivery is as crucial as support for timber workers and contractors.” said Denise Boyd of the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Contacts:
Dr Phill Pullinger, Environment Tasmania: 0428 554 934
Vica Bayley, The Wilderness Society: 0400 644 939
Denise Boyd, Australian Conservation Foundation: 0409 935 044

[1] Environment groups released evidence on 20th September that, since the signing of the intergovernmental agreement, Forestry Tasmania had acted against the agreement by not re-scheduling existing logging operations and in fact, even starting new logging operations in the high conservation value forests.