Logging in Tasmania: Bill to unlock forests passes first hurdle in Parliament
By Emilie Gramenz and Elise Fantin


The Tasmanian Government's contentious forestry bill will be scrutinised closely in Parliament's Upper House, with many of the independent Members of the Legislative Council indicating they are not sold on the legislation.

The State Government's plan will allow logging in 356,000 hectares of land otherwise protected under a moratorium until 2020.

The legislation has been widely opposed, with even the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania promising to campaign against the move.

The Government used its numbers in the Lower House to pass the bill after a debate that stretched to almost 3:00am on Friday.

Labor and the Greens voted against it.

The Greens attempted to move more than 200 amendments, including one that sought to change the title of the legislation — Forestry (Unlocking Production Forests) Bill 2017 — because they believed it to be overtly political.
Bill still faces Upper House hurdle

The mostly independent Upper House will debate the bill when Parliament resumes.

Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest has already sounded a warning over jobs, saying many in her electorate were concerned the legislation would backfire.

The ABC understands she has not been approached by the Government to convince her to support the legislation.

Earlier this week, Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch told the Upper House he believed the legislation was a political tool.

"The good old destructive forestry argument is back on the Government's agenda," he said on Wednesday.

"Where are the markets? That is the big question.

"There are a lot of questions surrounding this process of why this has been put back on the Government's agenda. It is such a negative in our progress towards a better society for Tasmania."

Nonetheless Mr Finch said he would consider the legislation closely before making a firm decision.

Several MLCs said they had received many negative representations about the legislation from people within their electorates.

Labor's two Upper House MPs will oppose the legislation