Christine Milne asked Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Joe Ludwig, whether he has referred to the Australian Federal Police the National Audit Office's assessment that millions of dollars in funding was misused in the Voluntary Exit Grants Program for forestry contractors.

Subjects: Greens Antarctic and marine research funding launch, rorts in forest contractor grants

CHRISTINE MILNE: We are here today to launch the Australian Greens' policy on support for Antarctic science and a big injection into the future prosperity, not only of Tasmania but in terms of global science, a major injection into a better understanding of the role of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans in the global climate system.

The scandals continue with the release today of the Australian National Audit Office's report on the administration of the Tasmanian Forest Intergovernmental Agreement Contractors Voluntary Exit Grants Program.

"The big question is, as it was with the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement, is the Federal or State government corrupt or incompetent when overseeing these grants programs?" Senator Christine Milne said today, announcing she will move for a Senate inquiry immediately.

NOTICE OF MOTION

I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that the findings of the Auditor General's Audit Report No. 22 2012-13, Administration of the Tasmanian Forest Intergovernmental Agreement Contractors Voluntary Exit Grants Program, are referred to the Senate References Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and transport for inquiry and report by  12 April 2013:

Senator Christine Milne

Leader of the Australian Greens

Greens NSW Senator and forests spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has congratulated Front Line Action on Coal for today's action at Whitehaven's Tarrawonga Mine, a proposed development which will destroy 150 hectares of both prime farmland and state forest.

"Today's action is needed because of the failure of the federal and the NSW governments to protect the local environment and take action on climate change," Senator Rhiannon said.
 
"The peaceful direct action at the main gate is a constructive way to highlight the need to protect this important food producing region.

The Australian Greens congratulate and pay tribute to Miranda Gibson for her tireless campaign to protect Tasmania's magnificent forests.

Miranda has been living in the Observer Tree in the southern forests of Tasmania for a record 451 days. This is a significant milestone for conservation and is now the longest running tree sit in Australian history.

The Federal Government is in breach of its own Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) through refusing to rule out further Commonwealth support for the proposed Bell Bay pulp mill.

 Australian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said that it was “duplicitous” of Federal Labor to refuse to support his Senate motion last week calling for a commitment of no further support for this project.

The Australian Greens have called on Federal Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean, to guarantee the Tasmanian people Labor will not attempt to buy Gunns Ltd’s pulp mill permits, nor provide additional resourcing for the project.

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated, the Government needs to assure the public no further support for the project will be forthcoming.