For the major parties, the environment is as an afterthought—pushed aside in favour of “jobs and growth,” without recognising that our long-term prosperity depends just as much on a healthy environment as it does on economic development.
The authors of the 2024 State of the Environment Report put it plainly:
“Tasmanians look to their political and community leaders to ensure the environment is properly cared for, and that the social and economic needs of current and future generations of Tasmanians are met. Meeting these sometimes-conflicting objectives is the defining challenge for Tasmanian leaders today.”
I believe we must care for our environment as though our lives depend on it—because they do. That’s why I support the following priorities:
- Implement recommendations of 2024 State of the Environment Report
- Keep private developers out of our world heritage areas
- Forest policy
- Comprehensive assessment of invasive species
- Public consultation on a new Cat Management Strategy
- Declare wild deer a pest under Biosecurity Act 2019
- Restore funding to Resource Management bodies
- State Government support for Boullanger Bay wetlands
1. Implement all 16 recommendations of the 2024 State of the Environment Report
These are expert, evidence-based recommendations. After years of delaying the report, the State Government must take urgent action to implement and fund these recommendations. This includes ensuring adequate capacity and resourcing of the agencies responsible — particularly NRE, which has been gutted under this Liberal Government.
2. Keep private developers out of our world heritage areas
I do not support the Liberal policy of privatising our special, pristine world heritage areas. These areas have been protected for everyone, not just for the wealthy to enjoy. I want to see the Lake Malbena development scrapped, along with the policy that enabled it.
3. Forest policy
I don’t support clear-felling and woodchipping of our native forests, but I do support small-scale selective logging for saw logs by local businesses where it is financially and environmentally sustainable. This doesn’t require the re-ignition of the forestry wars.
The State Government should honour its commitment as part of the 2010 Forest Agreement and ensure permanent protection for Tasmania’s high conservation value forests — which it previously promised, as part of that agreement, to place into reserves.
4. Launch a comprehensive assessment of Tasmania’s major invasive species
The Invasive Species Council warns, “The future health of our state’s environment, agriculture, and economy is under threat from highly damaging invasive species.”
I want to see a comprehensive, independent assessment to evaluate the environmental and economic cost of our most damaging, and potentially damaging invasive species — such as sea urchins, feral cats, and wild deer — and the cost of effective management. Actions should be ranked in order of priority and cost effectiveness so that funding decisions are evidence based.
5. Begin public consultation on a new Cat Management Strategy
The previous Cat Management Plan expired in 2022 and has failed to deliver results. We urgently need a new strategy with adequate resourcing — one shaped by science, informed by communities, and focused on protecting native wildlife and livestock.
6. Declare wild deer a pest under the Biosecurity Act 2019
Deer should no longer be treated as a “partly protected species” under outdated regulations. I will push to reclassify wild deer as a pest and commence a feasibility study into regulated harvesting for human consumption — supporting both ecological control and local enterprise.
7. Restore funding to Tasmania’s three regional Natural Resource Management bodies
In the State Budget released before the election, the Government proposed substantial funding cuts to our NRM South, NRM North, and Cradle Coast NRM. These not-for-profit organisations play a vital role in landscape protection, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement. I will fight to ensure they retain their current funding.
8. Provide State Government support for the Ramsar nomination of Boullanger Bay wetlands
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty focused on the conservation and wise use of wetlands. A successful Ramsar nomination for Boullanger Bay — which must be made by the Federal Government with support from the State Government — would ensure this area is internationally recognised for its biodiversity and waterbird importance.
The listing would help safeguard breeding grounds, migratory bird stopovers, and vital ecosystems by limiting development and unlocking Federal funding to monitor, protect, and restore the habitat. It would also raise the profile of the area and increase nature-based tourism, boosting the local economy.