Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings must take full responsibility for the loss of business and jobs announced at Ta Ann’s Tasmanian mills today, Coalition Forestry Spokesman Richard Colbeck said.
“It is the sham process started by the State and Commonwealth governments that the Greens and environment groups (ENGOs) have used against Ta Ann in both the UK and Japan,” Senator Colbeck said.
“The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) is now the weapon of choice for the ENGOs and the Greens in their job killing campaign.
“Ms Gillard and Ms Giddings can not escape the responsibility for this – it is their minority government partnerships that give the Greens legitimacy.
“It was also the Prime Minister and the Premier who duped the forest industry with last minute changes to the IGA at the behest of the Greens.
“Ms Giddings has the gall to falsely accuse the Liberals of talking down Tasmania’s economy while in fact it is her own cabinet partners who are trashing our investment reputation both here and overseas.
“Likewise Ms Gillard claims to support the manufacturing sector yet her signed partner in government is also trashing our nation’s reputation for manufacturing and investment.
“It is time to bring the whole Tasmanian forestry agreement sham to an end.
“These forests belong to the people of Tasmania. They do not belong to the ENGOs to claim nor the forest industry to give away.
“There are too many others who are not party to these talks that are affected yet have had no say in the IGA – farmers, miners and tourism operators to name a few.
“The Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team demands that the IGA process be abandoned immediately and replaced with a commitment from Labor to stand up for the forest industry in Tasmania and nationally.
“The Coalition does not recognise this sham process, nor any of the IGA process’ decisions including any reserve proposals.
“Ms Gillard and Ms Giddings claim to be working to assist the industry but the only thing they are doing is helping the Greens destroy it.
“At the same time they are all helping to tear down the reputation of Tasmania as an investment destination.
“How many more jobs will be destroyed before they wake up? How many jobs should be lost before Ms Gillard and Ms Giddings lose theirs?” Senator Colbeck said.
