Labor is calling for a bipartisan approach to tackling dangerous workplace invasions by groups like the Bob Brown Foundation which is targeting Tasmania's timber industry.
Shadow Minister for Resources, Shane Broad, has written to Minister Barnett offering to work with him to address this serious issue once and for all.
"The Bob Brown Foundation continues to hinder the legitimate activities of the Tasmanian timber industry by staging dangerous stunts for social media including standing on loose log piles for photos, locking on to moving machinery and doing tree sits in logged coupes," Dr Broad said.
"These activities are incredibly risky and could easily lead to the serious injury or death of protestors and timber workers.
"It's clear the timber industry wants a bipartisan approach to addressing this issue and I am offering to work with Minister Barnett to draft Legislation to tackle these job destroying stunts.
"The Labor Party's concerns about the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Amendment Bill are well documented. This bill risks making a criminal out of every Tasmanian and will provide Bob Brown a fundraising gravy train he will take all the way to the High Court of Australia.
"Under the proposed legislation, nurses protesting about a lack of resources outside our hospitals or factory workers demanding better leave entitlements could be fined or even jailed.
"There are alternate models that I believe we can implement with bipartisan support that would provide certainty and protection for the forest sector and other industries targeted by workplace invasions.
"I hope Minister Barnett will agree to work with me to find a solution to this serious issue and protect the future of Tasmania's vital forest industry."
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Minister for Resources
