Election 2022: Tasmanian forest lock-ups ‘absolutely right’, says Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese backed Mark Latham’s ill-fated Tasmanian forest protection policy as ‘absolutely right’ even after it was rejected by voters.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese in Perth on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

Anthony Albanese backed Mark Latham’s ill-fated Tasmanian forest protection policy as “absolutely right” even after it was rejected by voters, in resurfaced comments seized on by the Coalition.

A transcript of a November 2004 radio interview has emerged in which the Opposition Leader, then environment spokesman, backed the principles of a policy that reserved a further 240,000ha of Tasmania’s native forests.

“I think Mark Latham got the principles absolutely right,” Mr ­Albanese said in the ABC radio interview, weeks after the same policy cost the party two Tasmanian seats and contributed to its federal election loss.

“These are some of the most precious natural resources on earth, and we simply can’t allow the sort of approach, which is clear-felling, wood chipping and exporting. (It) doesn’t make economic sense, either.”

The comments are likely to be used by the Liberals to campaign on forestry in Tasmania’s three marginal seats – Bass, Braddon and Lyons – in this campaign’s dying days.

“Mr Albanese supported former leader Mark Latham’s disastrous 2004 policy to shut down forestry and if given the chance, there’s no doubt Mr Albanese would sell out the forestry industry again to win the support of the Greens,” said Assistant Forestry Minister Jonno Duniam.

Mr Albanese and Labor rejected the claim, accusing the Liberals of “desperation”. “Federal Labor has repeatedly committed to the native timber industry,” said a party campaign spokesman.

“We know the industry supports jobs and assists the construction sector to provide high quality products to Australians. Labor is committed to our native timber ­industry and to growing our plantation industry, as well further value-adding of Australia’s fine forest products.”

Last week, the Australian Forest Products Association backed the Coalition’s current forest policy over Labor’s, partly because of Scott Morrison’s pledge to try to circumvent state Labor phase-outs of native forest harvesting in Western Australia and Victoria. While the issue lacks the potency of some previous elections – ­notably October 2004 – native ­forest logging remains a divisive issue in Tasmania, with ongoing protests and legal skirmishes.

Also resurfaced are comments by former Labor MP for Lyons Dick Adams highlighting his ­battles with Mr Albanese in 2004 over native forest harvesting.

In one interview from the time, Mr Adams – a party stalwart – ­described Mr Albanese as “a bit like a mangy dog” who should be “expelled from the party”.

The attack came after Mr Albanese visited Tasmania to discuss forestry policy in the wake of the 2004 election loss without talking to the pro-logging Mr Adams.

“It’s a bit like a mangy dog … sneaking around,” Mr Adams said. “Labor has to be able to gain the trust of people in the outer states, and in regional areas; without that trust, we won’t win government. For people that don’t understand that, then probably they need to be expelled from the party.”

Senator Duniam said Mr Adams’ remarks showed “not even Labor trusts Mr Albanese to protect Tasmania’s forestry industry”.

Mr Adams did not respond to requests for comment but Labor rejected the claim. “An Albanese Labor government can be trusted to deliver for our forestry industry and the jobs and communities it supports,” the spokesman said.