Senator Eric Abetz

“Revelations that Labor and the Greens have done a deal to deny access to native forest resources in Tasmania will cost thousands of jobs and devastate our rural and regional communities,” Senator Eric Abetz said today.

A former Forestry Minister, Senator Abetz said, “Mr Bartlett and Ms Gillard together with all their Federal candidates have to come clean.”

“Labor has done a deal with the Greens. They wouldn’t be preferencing Labor for nothing.”

“I am now regularly receiving disturbing reports that Ms Gillard and Federal Labor have dusted off Mark Latham’s job destroying forest policy from 2004,” Senator Abetz said.

“But unlike Mark Latham Ms Gillard is keeping the plan secret.”

“Mr Bartlett and State Labor are up to their necks in this.”

“We know Labor will make solemn promises and junk them after the election. Mr Bartlett has form. He lied to the Tasmanian people before the election about doing deals with the Greens. He and Ms Gillard are at it again.”

“Tasmania’s forestry workers are entitled to know what Labor will do as a result of their preference deal.”

“Labor’s candidates have been strangely silent yet again as they were during the 2004 election.”

“Will Labor commit to no more lock ups?”

“Have Labor done a deal with the Greens on forestry?”

“If so, what is it?”

“How many jobs will be lost?”

“What will be the impact on country saw millers?”

“How much more wood will Australia need to import and where from?”

“How much compensation is anticipated?”

“What will be the impact on the cost of housing?”