2022-02-21
Today’s recycled tree planting plan from the Prime Minister has been slammed by the Greens as little more than a cynical electioneering stunt from a Government that has failed spectacularly at delivering on decades of promises to “Green Australia”.
Quotes attributable to Greens senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson:
“Everyone wants to see more trees planted, but Tasmanians shouldn't be so easily conned by the PM and his Government.
“People are rightly cynical of politicians making big promises at election time, because they never keep them. People do not want to see the same election policy recycled multiple times by a Government they cannot trust.
“The Liberal Government promised in 2018 to plant one billion trees over the decade to 2028. The policy cited studies that showed 400,000 hectares of new plantations would be needed over the next decade. Yet in 2021 it was revealed that less than 1% of that goal had been achieved.
“The Abbott government also promised to plant millions of trees nearly ten years ago, but this also turned out to be an empty promise.
“This Government simply can’t be trusted. As usual there are so many unanswered questions and falsehoods in today’s empty promise.
“How is this going to fix our timber shortage when these trees won't be available for harvest for decades?
“How will planting trees help with tackling our climate emergency if they’re going to be harvested for timber at the same time this Government supports the logging of some of the most carbon rich, biodiverse forests on the planet through RFAs?
“Unsuccessful tree planting schemes don't provide nearly enough climate action when the Government is supporting the development of 114 new fossil fuels projects around the nation.
“It’s no accident that this announcement has occurred in one of the most marginal seats in the country. The Liberals will offer northern Tasmanians the world if they think it will help them retain Government.
"Clearly this is nothing more than a cynical electioneering stunt from a Government that has failed spectacularly at delivering on decades of plantation-forest promises.”