Australia Institute spokesperson for native forests, Vanessa Bleyer said:

“Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s decision to cut down 40,000 hectares of pristine wilderness is an environmental tragedy.

“It will push threatened species closer to the brink and is completely out of step with voters who want to see their precious forests protected.

“Our research shows seven in 10 Australians want native forest logging banned.

“99% of Tasmanians don’t work in forestry and most forestry production already uses plantation timber, not native forests. It does not make economic sense for Tasmania to continue cutting down century-old trees for export to a dwindling number of countries.

“While today’s announcement will have a miniscule effect on Tasmania’s economy, it will be hugely destructive for the environment.

“The Tasmanian government must listen to voters, reverse this appalling decision and end native forest logging for good.”

The Australia Institute Tasmania is hosting a public event ‘Pathway out of native forest logging’ featuring Dr Richard Denniss and Dr Sophie Scamps MP, independent member for Mackellar, at the Launceston Convention Centre from 1pm Friday, March 1.