The State of the Environment Report released today shows that Tasmania’s unique environmental assets have been severely impacted by years of neglect from the state government, the Australia Institute has said.

Key Findings:

• The Tasmanian Government has released the first State of the Environment Report in 15 years.
• The report shows that the Government has severely mismanaged the state’s environment and natural resources.
• The report rates nearly two thirds of environmental indicators as declining or in poor condition. 50% of the indicators for coastal and marine environments are getting worse.
• The Tasmanian Government should allocate ongoing funding to adequately resource the implementation of the report’s recommendations and the production of the next State of the Environment Report.
• The report reveals deficiencies in the availability of environmental data, calls out the Government’s environmental mismanagement and recommends strengthening outdated and ineffective laws.
• The last State of the Environment report was released in 2009, despite a legislative requirement to produce one every five years.
• The Australia Institute, supported by the Environmental Defenders Office, urged the Government to recommence these reports in 2022.

“The Australia Institute welcomes the first Tasmanian State of the Environment Report in 15 years but is alarmed by what the report reveals about the deteriorating state of Tasmania’s environment,” said Eloise Carr, Director of the Australia Institute’s Tasmanian branch.

“The report is a scathing indictment of the Tasmanian Government’s environmental mismanagement. Too often they are putting foreign profits ahead of Tasmanians’ wellbeing, because we all rely on a healthy environment.

“It is clear from last week’s budget that all the Government intends to do about the report is read it.

“They have not put any money towards implementing its recommendations or preparing the next one. Instead, they have slashed the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s budget by $400,000.

“The report also reveals serious deficiencies in Tasmania’s environmental monitoring programs. This means government agencies do not have data to be able to make strategic decisions about the use of natural resources.

“It is unacceptable that in 2024 we cannot report on the state of our rivers and wetlands.

“The Tasmanian Planning Commission has failed to consider the impact of poor environmental health on human wellbeing, account against United Nations frameworks, or incorporate Tasmanian Aboriginal peoples’ rights and knowledge throughout its assessments.

“The Australia Institute also notes with disappointment that it took the threat of legal action for the Tasmanian Government to comply with its own laws and publish the report.”