Major bills hanging in the balance

Forestry and anti-discrimination

THE State Government has flagged a challenging week ahead in the Legislative Council by warning Labor not to block its legislative agenda.

This week is the Government’s last chance to progress Bills through the Legislative Council until mid-August, with parliament set for a sevenweek winter break.

Changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act and legislation to “unlock” 356,000ha of forests to logging are yet to pass the Upper House.

They are on the agenda for this week along with a long list of other Bills.

Labor has now has three MLCs in the 15 member Upper House — up from one when the Liberal Government took office — and the State Government is preparing to blame Labor for potential defeats on issues including forestry. Ten MLCs are independent. The Forestry (Unlocking Production Forests) Bill just made it into committee stage last month after a 6-6 vote.

Resources Minister Guy Barnett said it would be Labor’s fault if the forestry legislation failed.

“The legislation is scheduled for debate this week. Whether it passes depends on whether Labor defy the mandate we secured at the 2014 election to rip up the job-destroying forest deal,” he said.

“If the legislation is blocked by Labor we will seek a fresh mandate at the election to ensure that the forests are unlocked by the same date in the current Bill — July 1 2018.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Michelle O’Byrne said any failure by the Liberals to progress legislation was of their own making.

“If they are not able to get their legislation across it’s because they failed to convince not only the Upper House but the broad community in Tasmania,” Ms O’Byrne said.

Ms O’Byrne said few stakeholders supported the forestry Bill. “When you (present) legislation that is not support- ed by the protagonists on either side of the debate it ... means you have failed to win the hearts and minds of anyone.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the Liberals were reluctant to bring on the forestry Bill because it was headed for failure.

“If it does fall over it will be a massive slap in the face to Guy Barnett, who put forward a piece of legislation that was purely political in its purpose, designed to divide the community, not consulted, unjustified and unjustifiable,” she said.

Meanwhile the Government’s Anti-Discrimination changes have been with the Upper House since November.

The Liberals’ amendments provide an exemption under the Act for people to discuss issues including same-sex marriage if those views are an expression of religious beliefs.

Labor will oppose the Bill and a number of independent MLCs have expressed doubt about the need for the changes.

Acting Attorney-General Matthew Groom said the Government was committed to all parts of its legislative agenda.