PREMIER Lara Giddings has no plans to dump Greens leader Nick McKim from cabinet after he proposed an overseas trip to rival one planned by the government to promote forestry.
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The cost to taxpayers and exact itinerary of the trip won't be revealed until Monday, when Deputy Premier Bryan Green departs.
Opposition Leader Will Hodgman has accepted an invitation to join him for parts of the trip.
In response, Mr McKim said he could also fly to China, Japan and Singapore if the message being sold overseas wasn't ``the truth''.
That threat has infuriated the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania.
Chief executive Terry Edwards said Mr McKim had crossed a line and his role in cabinet was now untenable.
However, Ms Giddings last night rejected the suggestion of punishing Mr McKim for disagreeing on forestry.
``Labor has always supported forest workers and it is no surprise that the Greens do not,'' she said.
``Mr McKim is entitled to express his personal views and, in that respect, it would make no difference whether he is a member of cabinet or not.''
She said if Mr McKim decided to travel on such a mission it would be ``an absolute waste of his time'', but added that she couldn't stop him.
Ms Giddings said Monday's trip with the Liberals was about presenting a united front on forestry to key trading partners.
It follows trips made by environmentalists to campaign against logging in native forests - with the support of Mr McKim - that have been blamed for turning away customers.
Mr McKim said he was still awaiting a full itinerary before deciding what action to take but would not rule out a rival trip.
``I would say it's interesting that apparently private citizens aren't entitled to go to the markets and share their views, but apparently it's OK for the taxpayers to fund Bryan Green and Will Hodgman. I mean, it's rampant hypocrisy,'' he said.
``I reserve my right to directly contact the people that Bryan Green and Will Hodgman are going to meet to make sure they're getting the truth about what's happening in forestry.''
Mr Hodgman said he was pleased the government had agreed to a bipartisan approach, but said the fact that he was going showed the Green-Labor government was dysfunctional.
``The fact is we've got a government so hopelessly split it's up to the alternative government to step in and show our strong support for the forestry industry, and I'll proudly stand up,'' he said.
