[Greens-Media] TasGreens_Tasmanians Urged To Complain As Autumn Haze Descends_T Morris MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

PUBLIC URGED TO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORESTRY BURNS' SMOKE POLLUTION
As Autumn Haze Descends
Tim Morris MP
Tasmanian Greens Shadow Native Forests spokesperson
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today urged members of the public who have been
affected by the forestry burns this weekend to lodge written complaints
to the Health and Environment Departments, as well as contact the Public
and Environmental Health Service hotline on 1800 671 738.

Greens Shadow Native Forests spokesperson Tim Morris MP said it is
outrageous that as soon as Tasmania's famous autumn weather arrives,
Tasmanians are forced indoors to get away from the polluting smoke haze
that has covered significant areas of the island for the past two weeks.

"Too often at this beautiful time of the year, which should be enjoyed
by the community, people are forced indoors due to the smoke blanket
that descends upon us, caused by the outrageous and out-dated forestry
burns," Mr Morris said.

"Year after year people with asthma and other respiratory problems are
forced indoors to get away from this state-endorsed smoke pollution, and
enough is enough - it must stop.  This is completely unacceptable for
both public health considerations as well as meeting our climate change
commitments."

"The Greens are urging affected members of the public to complain loudly
about this unnecessary and  avoidable infringement upon their right to
breathe clean air by sending written complaints to the Environment
Department, the Director of Public Health, and to call the 24-Hour
Public and Environmental Health Service Hotline on 1800 671 738."

"Health Minister Lara Giddings and Environment Minister Michelle O'Byrne
should also be included on the list of those who should hear people's
outrage over this air pollution."

"The Greens are inundated with complaints from members of the public who
cannot believe that in this day and age they are having to protect
themselves and their children, some of whom have pre-existing medical
conditions and respiratory problems, from this smoke pollution."

"Lets be clear about these forestry burns, they are unnecessary,
out-dated and utterly incompatible with good public policy practices
that are meant to be tackling critical issues such as climate change,"
Mr Morris said.

"How on earth can this Lennon government expect to be taken seriously
when in a few months time they will be calling on the community,
especially in places such as Launceston, to be careful about their
wood-fire smoke because of the serious air pollution and health impacts,
after the island has been choked by forestry burns?"


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'Autumn Forest Burns = Climate Crimes' webpage launched today, 24 April
2008

Available at: www.tas.greens.org.au