Open season on Tasmania’s old growth forests

ACF's 2006 report Bulldozing Progress documents how Rimbunan Hijau's operations in PNG have been repeatedly linked to serious human rights abuses, and environmental damage, the very activities Turnbull is now trying to address. In the interests of providing maximum protection for the Tasmanian environment, the state Government should have stuck with the Resource Planning and Development Commission process. The Tasmanian Parliament is expected to vote on the mill proposal at the end of August.

But questions remain for federal politicians on both sides of the fence. Government and Opposition should commit to the highest possible environmental assessment standard for the proposed mill.

The ALP should honour its April national conference commitment to “further protection of identified Tasmanian high conservation value, old-growth forests, rainforests and other ecosystems”.

And the Federal Government should tell Australians whether its laudable commitment to reducing deforestation and encouraging sustainable forestry extends to Tasmania's magnificent old growth forests.