The Tasmanian Sawmillers Association has added its name to a list of those opposed to the State Government’s plans to open 356,000 hectares of wilderness to logging. Source: The Mercury
Association director Robert Torenius briefed the Legislative Council before MLCs were due to begin considering the forestry Bill. However, the Government withdrew the Bill — and the Anti-discrimination Amendment Bill — from the Legislative Council agenda, frustrating some MPs.
The Upper House will now not consider the Bill until after elections are held in three of its divisions next month.
Mr Torenius said the association did not believe reopening the 356,000 hectares was a “sensible thing to do”.
“There’s just too many unanswered questions in the whole issue at the moment,” he said. “We’re definitely not against any industry development, we just feel at this point in time this area … should be kept in reserve.
“I think it was just bad timing and I think they’ve done the right thing by pulling the Bill.”
The Forest Industries Association of Tasmania and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union Tasmania have also opposed the forestry Bill, while hardware giant Bunnings has ruled out sourcing timber from the reopened areas.
The 356,000 hectares of forests in areas such as Wielangta, the Blue Tier, Tarkine and Bruny Island had been set aside for future reserves under the former Tasmanian Forest Agreement.
A Government spokesman said: “It’s not surprising that the groups who supported the Labor-Green forestry deal don’t support our plan to tear it up. By opening up these forests, we can end forestry subsidies and redirect that money into health, education and supporting vulnerable Tasmanians, where it belongs.”
The Bill is intended to ensure Forestry Tasmania can commercially provide the legislated minimum 137,000 cubic metres of high-quality sawlogs to mills each year.
The Tasmanian Special Timbers Alliance has strongly supported the Bill.
