The Premier, Lara Giddings, today condemned the Liberal Party for fanning the flames of division over forestry and exploiting pain in regional communities.

Ms Giddings rejected Will Hodgman's politically motivated challenge for a debate over forestry.

"What Tasmania needs now is a resolution that will provide for a sustainable forest industry into the future, it does not need shallow political posturing and theatre," Ms Giddings said.

"The Liberals' motivation for proposing these debates is cynical, destructive and lazy.

"Will Hodgman has the opportunity to debate these issues every day in Parliament and yet all we hear is denial of the challenges facing the industry.

"I will continue to visit affected communities and meet with forest workers directly to explain what we are doing to create a sustainable forest industry for the future."

Ms Giddings said the Opposition was becoming increasingly irrelevant because of its head-in-the-sand approach to the forest debate.

"Industry peak bodies, the unions and contractors all recognise that doing nothing is not an option, which is why they remain engaged in the Statement of Principles process. 

"The Opposition is petrified that this process might actually reach an agreement because it will deny them their favourite political soap box."