Smoke Pollution

The Petition of the undersigned citizens of Tasmania draws to the attention of the House:

That Sustainable Timber Tasmania's extensive post-logging forestry burns create very heavy smoke throughout autumn, which impacts tourist businesses and the health and well-being of people in many communities. These unnecessary burning practices increase climate heating and destroy habitat for wildlife.

This widespread pollution inflicts at minimum $16 million annually in avoidable health costs and severely damages Tasmania's famous "clean green" tourist brand, and the income of wine growers and beekeepers.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to call on the Government to:

1. Ensure Sustainable Timber Tasmania and private operators phase-out their large-scale native and plantation forest burning.

2. Establish independent, real-time smoke monitoring in areas where thick 'smoke ponding' heavily impacts local communities every year.

3. Launch an independent inquiry into the total socio-economic costs of Sustainable Timber Tasmania's burns, with all government funding and subsidies made fully public.

4. Require Sustainable Timber Tasmania's forestry management practices to prioritise air quality, public health, and local smoke-sensitive industries.