Guy Barnett,Minister for Resources
During the greatest health and economic challenge in more than a generation, jobs are more important than ever. Every job counts.
This year we have seen a significant escalation in threatening radical protest actions from extremist groups. Unfortunately on a regular basis, Tasmanians are being threatened and harassed for simply going about their legal or everyday work.
Today, the Bob Brown Foundation have launched their latest protest action invading the work site of a mining company on the West Coast directly threatening the rights of Tasmanians working at Venture Minerals' Riley Creek operation.
I am advised that these extremist protestors have invaded the work site interfered with vehicles on site and attached themselves to poles in the vehicles.
This protest action is condemned. The BBF is the radical arm of the Greens and Tasmanians have had enough. All our productive industries are at risk. Yes enough is enough.
These ongoing and threatening protests and work site invasions is why our Workplaces Protection Bill should be supported when it is debated in the Legislative Council next week.
These radical green protest actions stop Tasmanians from working and business from operating. They create maximum distress and disruption, are designed to attract media attention and drive donations from inner city benefactors in Sydney and Melbourne.
Tasmanian businesses groups, farmers, the forestry industry, mining and fishing sectors are unified in their support of our workplace protection Bill.
Similar legislation has been passed across Australia with Labor Party support including in the federal parliament and in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Britton Timbers' Managing Director Shawn Britton recently condemned the actions of extremist radicals from the Bob Brown Foundation saying "The protestors are going from business to business across Tasmania, terrorising our employees, issuing death threats to our managers, endangering lives and crippling economic activity at a time following COVID when we can least afford it."
Shadow Minister for Resources, Shane Broad feigned his support for industry from workplace invasions in Parliament today, but, so far has refused to support our Bill.
