TASMANIA'S newest member of parliament has climate change, forestry and the swift parrot in her sights. Huon Valley councillor Rosalie Woodruff will be sworn into the House of Assembly on Wednesday morning, forming Tasmania's first all-female political party. Dr Woodruff, an epidemiologist, will replace Senator-designate Nick McKim. "I've been propelled into politics by climate change," Dr Woodruff said. "Climate change is the defining issue of our time. "It's a great threat but also an incredible opportunity for us to take advantage of and I want to play my part to position Tasmania's economy to take up the opportunities that climate change will bring. "We need to develop a 100-year perspective, we need to develop a plan to take us into the future and to open up all of our industries and all of our sectors to thinking about preparing for climate change," she said. It is climate change that will dominate Dr Woodruff's maiden speech, which is expected to be presented on Thursday. As well as climate change, Dr Woodruff is determined to take on the issues of forestry, the swift parrot, and electric cars. "The forestry sector is in a state of transition and I think the government needs to be very clear and strong about our support for that sector," she said. "I think we need to be providing the sort of support that timber communities like Geeveston need, and that is a clear direction to be moving into jobs for the future. "We cannot afford to continue to subsidies those industries." Dr Woodruff has concerns for swift parrot populations on Bruny Island. "We can't continue to take away the houses of the swift parrot - we need to call a stop to native forest harvesting on Bruny Island," she said. Stopping potential woodchip exports on the Huon River and a biomass burning proposal are also on her list of concerns. "All the evidence around the world is that it isn't the pathway to the future," she said. She also wants to push the "electric vehicle revolution" in Tasmania, and see charging stations across the state. Dr Woodruff said she was excited to be a part of an all-female team. "That's edging up to where it should be, we're leading the rest of Australia," she said. A special joint sitting of Parliament is expected to ratify Mr McKim's elevation to the Senate on Wednesday morning.
Bass Greens MHA Andrea Dawkins, Franklin Greens MHA Rosalie Woodruff and Greens leader Cassy O'Connor.
TASMANIA'S newest member of parliament has climate change, forestry and the swift parrot in her sights.
Huon Valley councillor Rosalie Woodruff will be sworn into the House of Assembly on Wednesday morning, forming Tasmania's first all-female political party.
Dr Woodruff, an epidemiologist, will replace Senator-designate Nick McKim.
"I've been propelled into politics by climate change," Dr Woodruff said.
"Climate change is the defining issue of our time.
"It's a great threat but also an incredible opportunity for us to take advantage of and I want to play my part to position Tasmania's economy to take up the opportunities that climate change will bring.
"We need to develop a 100-year perspective, we need to develop a plan to take us into the future and to open up all of our industries and all of our sectors to thinking about preparing for climate change," she said.
It is climate change that will dominate Dr Woodruff's maiden speech, which is expected to be presented on Thursday.
As well as climate change, Dr Woodruff is determined to take on the issues of forestry, the swift parrot, and electric cars.
"The forestry sector is in a state of transition and I think the government needs to be very clear and strong about our support for that sector," she said.
"I think we need to be providing the sort of support that timber communities like Geeveston need, and that is a clear direction to be moving into jobs for the future.
"We cannot afford to continue to subsidies those industries."
Dr Woodruff has concerns for swift parrot populations on Bruny Island.
"We can't continue to take away the houses of the swift parrot - we need to call a stop to native forest harvesting on Bruny Island," she said.
Stopping potential woodchip exports on the Huon River and a biomass burning proposal are also on her list of concerns.
"All the evidence around the world is that it isn't the pathway to the future," she said.
She also wants to push the "electric vehicle revolution" in Tasmania, and see charging stations across the state.
Dr Woodruff said she was excited to be a part of an all-female team.
"That's edging up to where it should be, we're leading the rest of Australia," she said.
A special joint sitting of Parliament is expected to ratify Mr McKim's elevation to the Senate on Wednesday morning.
