The Greens have exposed their own hypocrisy on forest practices in their criticism of the Federal Government’s plan to help reverse Asian deforestation.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Graeme Sturges, said today the Greens rush to criticise the plan showed again that they were happy to watch unsustainable forest practices elsewhere, while criticising sustainable forest practices at home.
“Regardless of whether the Australian Government’s plan has merit or not, the Greens just have to criticise.
“While giant mud-slide erosion continues after broad-scale deforestation in Indonesia, Senator Bob Brown puts the boot into our sustainable forest practices.
“In Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Papua New Guinea – all over south east Asia, the cost of wholesale forest clearances is measured in human misery and environmental devastation.
“But the Greens are apparently happy to let that slide.
“It’s hypocrisy. Nothing more and nothing less.”
Mr Sturges said Senator Brown had singled out Tasmanian forest practices to make his point.
“He is quoted as making the mystifying remark that Tasmania has a ‘four-month burning season to prevent forest regeneration.’
“In fact, as Senator Brown should well know, the burns are specifically designed to allow forest regeneration.
“Tasmania’s forest practices have been recognised internationally as leading the field in sustainability.
“In third-world countries, forests are being wiped out wholesale with enormous consequences but Bob Brown and his mates would rather have a swipe at us.
“It’s simply disgusting that Senator Brown should be putting the boot into Tasmania while turning a blind eye to the devastation and human misery of wide-scale deforestation in south east Asia.”
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