REPORTS that Prime Minister Tony Abbott ignored advice from the Environmental and Agricultural departments to suspend the implementation of a policy to remove 74,000 hectares of Tasmanian forests from the World Heritage Area have been labelled ‘‘a beat-up’’ by Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck.
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Freedom of Information documents obtained by The Wilderness Society showed that a letter to Prime Minister Abbott was jointly drafted by the departments of Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Agricultural Minister Barnaby Joyce immediately after the September 2013 election to request a six-month review of the Tasmanian forestry package prior to the implementation of the policy
‘‘In particular, the review would enable us to more fully examine the implications of our commitments [redacted] and on our capacity to negotiate successfully the third five-yearly review and extension of the Tasmanian RFA (regional forests agreement),’’ the letter said.
Wilderness Society Tasmanian campaign manager Vica Bailey said Mr Abbott’s decision to ignore departmental advice had been a ‘‘policy disaster’’.
‘‘The Abbott government deliberately sabotaged the historic forest peace deal for idealogical reasons, and then ignored advice from ministers and departmental staff on the consequences,’’ he said.
‘‘Australia was internationally embarrassed after its ham-fisted efforts to remove 74,000 hectares of old growth and wilderness forest from the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area were rejected in minutes by the World Heritage Committee in June 2014, with the Portuguese delegation calling Australia’s attempt ‘feeble’.’’
Media spokesmen for Minister Hunt and Minister Joyce said the letter that was drafted ‘‘was never sent to the Prime Minister, and in no way reflects the view of either minister Hunt or Joyce about how to progress its 2013 election commitment.’’
Senator Colbeck said the departmental advice was not followed because it did not reflect government policy.
‘‘It was considered. It did not reflect our policy, that’s the whole deal about ministerial responsibility. You consider the advice that is put to you before you make your decisions,’’ he said.
‘‘Just because a department puts up a piece of policy does not mean that’s what you’re obliged to do, and that’s the way I work in my portfolio all the time.’’
Senator Colbeck said the letter remained unsigned by Ministers Hunt and Joyce because they did not agree with it.
The Prime Minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
