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

Under this agreement, nearly one million hectares of old-growth forests are protected forever, and 45 per cent of Tasmania’s forests and 42 per cent of Tasmania’s total landmass are in reserves. The changes announced on Friday bring the agreement into line with the other nine regional forest agreements around the country. They confirm that, when combined with various management prescriptions, the massive Tasmanian reserve system protects Tasmania’s unique biodiversity and endangered species. I will be very clear. Not one extra tree will be cut down as a result of these amendments. Not a single animal will become extinct because of these amendments, not one. And 10,000 timber workers’ jobs also will be conserved—