The Australian greens have dismissed failed former Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon’s attempts to breathe life back into Gunns Ltd’s pulp mill proposal.

 Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, a long time opponent of the proposal, stated Mr Lennon’s comments yesterday was nothing more than a feeble attempt at historical revisionism.

“The mill proposal was purportedly born at a breakfast with a hangover, which has now unfortunately spread across the entire state.

Greens Senator and forests spokesperson Lee Rhiannon asks questions of Minister Ludwig and departmental staff about forests.

Senate Estimates - Monday, 11 February 2013

RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Senator Ludwig, Minister Assisting on Queensland Floods Recovery, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Executive

Mr Andrew Metcalfe, Secretary

Ms Rona Mellor, Deputy Secretary

The mining industry has just secured a $4 million subsidy from the Federal Government to destroy the Tarkine.

"Not only has Minister Tony Burke rejected the heritage council advice to list the Tarkine for its fantastic natural values but Julia Gillard has decided to give $4 million to support this mining venture to make it economically viable to trash the Tarkine." Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Christine Milne said.

"Here we go again - the mining industry scores $4 million and single parents zero, and recipients of Newstart zero.

"Minister Burke's decision to abandon the Tarkine to the mining industry is not only a disgrace, but it's a crime against the environment." Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Christine Milne said.

"What possible justification can an environment minister have for abandoning the environment to the mining industry?

"No doubt Tony Abbott is cheering as he would go even further and not only mine the Tarkine but reject any end to logging.

Tony Abbott must come clean on whether the Coalition will lobby the World Heritage Committee not to list Tasmania's forests at the World Heritage Committee meeting in June this year, the Australian Greens said today.

"Abbott's response saying he doesn't intend to lock up any more of Tasmania is just weasel words and we need a specific answer as to whether or not he is going to actively oppose the World Heritage listing of Tasmania's forests, as Senator Richard Colbeck has said the Coalition will do."

Transcript

Subjects: World Heritage listing, Forestry Tasmania, Craig Thomson, Tony Abbott, NBN

"After thirty years of campaigning, it is fantastic that Tasmania's magnificent forests are finally being submitted for World Heritage listing." Christine Milne Australian Greens leader said today.

"Tasmania's global reputation as an area of great beauty and wilderness, a clean, green and clever island, will be enhanced by this World Heritage listing of the tallest flowering plants on the planet.

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson has just returned from Bicheno, East Coast Tasmania where he met with and listened to fire-impacted communities, businesses and experts on community fire protection.

“The success of recent selective Tasmanian Parks &Wildlife Service fuel reduction burns, which helped save Tasmania’s magnificent Freycinet Peninsula and Coles Bay from catastrophe in last week’s Tasmanian East Coast bush fires, shows what can be achieved with appropriate resourcing and fire management strategies.

As activists gather on the Franklin River this weekend to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the beginning of the Franklin blockade, it is an opportune time to acknowledge the contribution our protected areas have provided to our economy and community, Australian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated today.

"The Greens believe a World Heritage Interpretation Centre would be an important addition to future tourism based on our wild areas.