Campaign to defend Tasmanian forests

By Sarah Stephen and Kylie Moon

HOBART -- The Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement, due to be signed in the next month, was the major focus for activities around World Environment Week this year. It is feared that key areas of significance will remain unprotected, including the Tarkine.

About 80 people listened to a debate on the agreement, between conservationists and politicians, organised by the Green Society at the University of Tasmania on June 2.

The Wilderness Society held a campaign dinner on June 3, with guest speaker state Liberal environment minister Peter Hodgman. When asked about the RFA process, the Tarkine rainforest and the Mt McCall road, Hodgman responded that he ``can get us some things, but not everything''.

A rally on Parliament House lawns on June 5 attracted more than 250 people. Speakers included Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown, Wilderness Society representative Amanda Sully and Michael Paxton, a member of Surfrider Foundation and Tasmanian young environmental achiever of the year.

Paxton issued an angry condemnation of those in power who continue to make decisions on the basis of profit and greed. ``All the opinion polls indicate overwhelming opposition to the government's attacks on our environment, yet they continue to carry them out. It makes you wonder whether we live in a democracy at all.''

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