Bryan Green’s claims are wrong, there’s no contradiction between James Neville-Smith and I.
Mr Neville-Smith clearly said this morning he would be interested in this timber provided it has third-party certification, which is what we have said we will require.*
Tasmanian Special Timbers Alliance (TSTA) has today also welcomed the Government’s proposed legislative changes.
No amount of dodging and twisting by Mr Green will change the fact that Forestry Tasmania has clearly advised that it cannot commercially supply the legislated requirement of sawlogs.
At the end of the day, there are only three choices here:
1) Do nothing – up to 700 job losses in regional Tasmania – the Greens’ position
2) Put more public subsidies in – money which could otherwise be spent on health and education
3) Make more wood available – the Hodgman Government’s position
What is Labor’s position?
* “From our perspective, if any wood gets FSC certified, I shouldn’t see any reason why you wouldn’t be able to buy it.” – James Neville-Smith, ABC Mornings 27/2/2017