Guy Barnett,Minister for Resources
Cassy O’Connor has no credibility on forestry given she was a member of the Labor-Green Government that took a wrecking ball to the industry, causing untold pain to thousands of families.
Our Government will proudly back our forestry industry and the thousands of jobs it supports, many in regional areas.
It’s no surprise that the Greens and their allies want Ta Ann to cease operating and sack its local workforce – but Ms O’Connor fails to mention that Ta Ann was paid $26.5 million compensation by the Federal Labor Government only because the Labor-Green Government tore up supply contracts, as part of their job-destroying Tasmanian Forest Agreement.
This disastrous decision not only cost taxpayers millions, but decimated regional communities across the State and cost two out of every three jobs in the industry.
It took the election of a Liberal Government in 2014 to reverse the damage and back in the sector and the many benefits it gives to our State, and we will continue to support it.
