The Australian Greens say the Tasmanian government cannot be trusted to properly assess the environmental impacts of development in national parks and World Heritage areas, for which it has today opened expressions of interest.

"Unfortunately in Tasmania we have a government with the mentality that if you can't dig it up or cut it down then you should put a resort on it. That's a very bad idea," said Greens Leader Christine Milne.

"The Greens want Tasmania to benefit from a strong tourism industry, so the Hodgman government has to get real.

The Australian Greens have today condemned the decision to allow cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park and announced plans to reintroduce a bill to protect our national parks.

"The writing is on the wall for environment in Australia, with Tony Abbott pushing his 19th century ‘environment is for man' attitude," said Senator Christine Milne, leader of the Australian Greens.

"Given Mr Abbott thinks we have too much protected forest, this outrageous assault on the integrity of our precious national parks will be just the start.

I love Royal National Park so this campaign for world heritage listing for these very special places means a lot to me.

Sutherland Shire Environment Centre is spearheading the First National Park campaign. I strongly recommend their book “A Natural for world heritage” by Dr Geoff Mosley. Geoff, a geographer and environmental historian, has produced a stunning publication.

The Senate notes:

1. Coal seam gas mining threatens our land, our water, our communities and our climate.

2. The Senate calls on all parties to commit to not approving any more coal seam gas developments in Australia.

For further information on the Greens' work to stop CSG, visit our campaign page. 

The Senate

(a) notes that Australia's national environment laws only regulate this country's most environmentally destructive projects which threaten our most precious species and wild places.

(b) calls on the Government to amend our national environment laws before this parliament rises to ensure these responsibilities cannot be handed to state or territory governments.

The Australian Greens have celebrated World Environment Day by announcing a new plan to protect the country's national parks from attacks by state governments.

The Greens in the Senate will move to add national parks as a new matter of environmental significance, joining matters such as threatened species and World Heritage Areas that are protected nationally.

Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Estimates hearings, 22 May 2012

Mr Peter Cochrane, Director of National Parks

Full transcript available here