Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Watson for his question and note that he, along with all his Tasmanian Liberal Senate colleagues, and indeed Messrs Baker and Ferguson, the members for Braddon and Bass in the other place, is a very strong supporter of the Tasmanian forest industry, as was witnessed by the presence of all of us at the Albert Hall in Launceston just before the last federal election. At that time, the Prime Minister announced very clearly our policy in relation to the forest industry. It was one based on balance, security for the industry and also providing extra investment. That position was, in fact, clearly enunciated by the motion which Senator Watson moved in this place yesterday and which, might I add, was passed yesterday.

The sad thing to note is that it was only senators on this side of the chamber who supported this pro-forestry, pro-Tasmanian motion. It was only the Howard government that was committed to supporting the 10,000-plus timber industry workers in Tasmania. We all remember Labor’s job-destroying, anti-Tasmanian attempt to grab Green preferences which they took to the last election. It backfired on them very badly, as it should have.

Since then, Labor has been trying to tell the Australian people that they have dumped the folly of Mr Latham’s policy—but the ghost of Latham still haunts the Labor Party. I do not know why he did it but yesterday Senator Watson very kindly gave the Labor Party the opportunity to shed the ghost of Latham and vote for our motion, but Labor not only failed to support our motion but deliberately voted against it.

Last night the former failed member and now recycled Labor candidate for Braddon came out in the media and said Labor ‘stuffed up’.