Old foes draw battle lines for new forest wars as federal election looms

Old foes are digging in for a rerun of the state’s forestry wars as a federal election looms.

Doctor Rosalie Woodruff Greens leader. Final day of state parliament for 2024. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Old foes are digging in for a rerun of the state’s forestry wars as a federal election looms.

The Greens have accused the state government of having secret plans to release up to 39,000 hectares of native forests for logging.

Minister for Business, Industry and Resources Eric Abetz came under pressure in GBE hearings to reveal which areas were under consideration by Sustainable Timbers Tasmania.

He said it was premature to release maps the Greens sought because no final decisions had been made.

“Assessments have to be made in relation to each and every proposed area and until such time as I have information I’m not going to, as a relatively new minister in this area, going to put areas out into the public domain,” he said.

“I’m currently getting information and being given guidance in relation to areas, and until such time as a determination is made, there’s no real inclination by myself to talk about areas in hypothetical circumstances.”

Minister Eric Abetz. Return to the house of assembly question time. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Sustainable Timbers Tasmania CEO Steve Whiteley referred Dr Woodruff to redacted documents released under Right to Information laws.

“I’m aware of the information that’s been provided through the Ombudsman, and we’re satisfied that that’s sufficiently complete at present,” he said.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff — who continues to refer to the state-owned forestry company by its old name — said the public deserved to know what the plans were.

“We didn’t get anything that the community deserve from Forestry Tasmania in their answers, they didn’t provide the maps which they have,” she said.

“We know that to clearly show to communities which areas will be logged and burned, they wouldn’t provide the protocol that they say that they’re using to oversee how they treat peaceful protesters.

“We know there’s so many problems with the way Forestry Tasmania is operating in relation to peaceful protests. And they refuse to provide that information and table it.”

Leader of the Opposition Dean Winter asks questions in Parliament on Tuesday 19th November 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

Labor leader Dean Winter said his party wanted to work with industry.

“The Greens want a fight on forestry. The Liberals want a fight on forestry.

“Labor stands for no forest wars. I do not want to see another forest war in Tasmania. It’s bad for jobs, bad for business, bad for our economy.

Greens Senator Nick McKim said his party was intent on protecting forests.

“If Eric Abetz wants to have a fight on forests, the Greens are here to defend those forests,” he told reporters.

Mr Abetz defended Sustainable Timbers’ failure to gain Forest Stewardship Council certification over the last decade.

“If you’re already at world’s best practice and then demand is made that you show even further improvement, it becomes difficult,” he said.

And the minister said it would be a terrible result if Tasmania followed the lead of other states and ended native forest logging.

“I’ve got a funny suspicion that people like Vladimir Putin would be cheering on the sidelines because there’s an indication that a lot of the timber and timber product that is being imported into Australia comes from illegally harvested areas, including in Russia.”

Originally published as Old foes draw battle lines for new forest wars as federal election looms