Last year Environment Tasmania, The Wilderness Society and Australian Conservation Foundation and forest industry and union representatives met and developed the 'Statement of Principles to lead to an agreement'.
The Statement of Principles has been the foundation of discussions and negotiations between the signatories and the Federal Government appointed facilitator Bill Kelty. Mr Kelty submitted an interim report that included a number of recommendations for the Federal and Tasmanian Governments to implement as initial steps to implement the Statement of Principles. View the interim report, its recommendations and the submissions that the ENGOs made during these negotiations HERE.
Mr Kelty's interim report includes the statement 'it would be easy to conclude that there is insufficient agreement to establish a workable solution.' This is because the 3 ENGOs have a position that they do not support Gunns proposed pulp mill and all 3 ENGOs have stated that this position will not change. View Environment Tasmania's position on the proposed mill HERE.
Despite the difference of position on the pulp mill and the complexity of the task, Mr Kelty recommended that the government should engage with the signatories to the Statement of Principles to deliver an outcome for Tasmania and he worked with the Signatories to deliver the the Signatories Agreement on 22 June. Download the Signatories Agreement HERE.
On 25 July 2011 Prime Minister Gillard and Premier Giddings announced a Heads of Agreement to implement the Statement of Principles forest agreement. Download the Heads of Agreement HERE.
Two weeks later on 7 August 2011 Prime Minister Gillard and Premier Giddings signed a Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA). The IGA provides a strong foundation to protect Tasmaniaʼs unique and important native forests and transition the logging industry away from native forests. Download the Intergovernmental Agreement HERE.
On the19th of August the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Government's released the Terms of Reference for the Independent Verification Group. These Terms of Reference identify the tasks and outputs needed from the Independent Verification process to meet the requirements of the relevant clauses of the Intergovernmental Agreement.
Download the Terms of Reference HERE.
Where to from here...
Community groups and many thousands of people across Tasmania and the globe have worked for decades to see Tassieʼs ancient forests protected, and this Intergovernmental Agreement marks a critical step towards their lasting protection for future generations. A key part of this agreement is a pathway to deliver the secure protection of unique and important native forests such as those in the Upper Florentine and Weld Valleys, the Tarkine, the Great Western Tiers, the North-East Highlands, including the Blue Tier, South Sister and the Eastern Tiers including Wielangta
While this isnʼt the end of the process and much work is still to be done, the IGA provides a much more secure framework for full implementation of this once-in-a-generation opportunity. The key challenge will be the passage of legislative reforms required and Environment Tasmania along with The Wilderness Society and Australian Conservation Foundation are calling for tri-partisan and Legislative Council support for this agreement and the outcomes it offers.
All three environment groups will continue to work with other signatories and government to finalise further details and deliver on the promise of this agreement and all of the principles embedded in the original Statement of Principles.
Please do what you can to inspire your friends, family and community to join the campaign for forest protection.
You can get active right now by contacting The Prime Minister and the Tasmanian Premier today and sending this message to your networks.
Ask Prime Minister Gillard and Premeir Giddings to implement the Intergovernmental Agreement. Tell them "It's time to protect Tasmania's forests".
CONTACT THEM TODAY!
Tasmanain Premier Lara Giddings
Level 11, 15 Murray Street, Hobart, Tasmania
Tel: 03 6233 3464
Email: lara.giddings@dpac.tas.gov.au
Primie Minister Julia Gillard
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7700
Email: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm/>
Get involved in the campaign!
Check out the ET Events Calendar and the ET Member Groups page to find out what campaign events are happening this month and what groups are active and how you can get involved across the state.