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

Very briefly, the issue in relation to our good friend Mr Garrett had a bit of an airing this afternoon. The simple fact is that he made a promise to the people of Tasmania to visit before the national conference. He did not. I think the people of Tasmania are entitled to an explanation as to why he has not visited. The reason given, that he is so busy he has not found the time, is interesting. Both Mr Rudd and the Prime Minister have been able to make multiple visits to Tasmania during that time—the excuse, therefore, is that Mr Garrett is busier than both Mr Rudd and the Prime Minister. I do not think that argument washes.

In relation to the current Labor Party policy, my media release that was issued on the day of the national conference of the Labor Party footnoted Mr Anthony Albanese’s media statement of 19 November 2004, when he was shadow spokesman in the Mark Latham era. I was able to point out how the wording during that period looked very similar to that which had then been ratified by the most recent Labor conference. The wording was that the Labor Party had ratified a policy of further protection—I repeat: further protection—of a list of Tasmanian forest types. As a result, they have further protection on the books. That is quite clearly in stark contrast—