Congress fails its diplomacy promise

It is deeply disappointing to see MONA’s Forestry Congress taken over by activists pushing to shutdown our sustainable native forestry industry.  

Sustainable Timber Tasmania and other well-respected independent forest practices regulator, the Forest Practices Authority, attended the Congress in good faith, however they have been subjected to behaviour completely at odds with the ‘radical diplomacy’ the Congress promised. 

Minister for Resources, Felix Ellis, said he would not be attending the Congress after learning of the behaviour of some attendees.  

“The Congress had the potential to host important and robust conversations about our sustainable forestry industry,” Minister Ellis said.  

“Instead, hard-working Tasmanians have endured heckling and abuse - this is totally unacceptable.” 

The Rockliff Liberal Government will always back in our sustainable forestry sector and the mum and dad Tasmanians it helps to put food on the table.