Media Release 26 November 2016

Two thirds of Tasmania is effectively locked out of direct involvement in the Tasmanian Forest Agreement's '20 year rolling extension' environmentalist Bob Brown said today.

"The Turnbull and Hodgman governments are so afraid of public opposition to industrial logging of Tasmania's ancient forests that Hobart, Launceston and Devonport have been lopped off the list of so-called 'drop-in centres' for information and public feedback on extending the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement. The centres are being set up in Huonville, Scottsdale and Burnie” (see today's advertisements.)

"It's pretty obvious. The Liberal governments are locating the centres in towns with a history linked to woodchipping but keeping the bulk of the interested public at bay. The idea that, after 20 years of the original Regional Forest Agreement, there would be a thorough-going root, trunk and branch review before any new agreement, is being dishonoured. Locking the public out like this will raise alarm that real environmental assessment of the impact of logging, and its damaging impact on tourism, is being strenuously avoided.”

Media contact:
Steven Chaffer  0408 855 261