MEDIA RELEASE

1st April 2010

Protestors disrupt struggling workers. Tasmanian cost of living impacted.

Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association CEO Ed Vincent said the cost to the community of illegal forest protests, through relocation costs and lost production, had an adverse impact on the Tasmanian cost of living.  “All Tasmanians are paying for the costs associated with these illegal actions.”

“The sense of frustration at these sorts of interference in contractors’ lawful business, especially in the current economic climate, is very real. The irony of two illegal protests since the close of polls versus none during the summer leading up to the election, is not lost on our members, or the wider electorate.”

“During the election campaign, the Tasmanian Greens recognised the plight of the contracting sector in their policy document and were successful in influencing to prevent illegal protests in the lead up to the poll. Contractors, struggling with the timber industry downturn call on Greens leader Nick McKim to encourage radical green groups to again stop illegal protests.”
ENDS

Tagged as: forest protest, illegal, McKim, tfca executive officer