00:00Tasmania's natural environment is one of the state's most valuable assets, but a major
00:10independent report released more than a month ago gave a scathing critique of the state
00:16government's environmental management.
00:19This shows an environment that is struggling, really struggling.
00:22The report found 16 out of 29 environmental indicators are getting worse, including rising
00:29sea surface temperatures and more species becoming threatened.
00:34Now 20 environment groups have signed an open letter calling on the Tasmanian government
00:39to act.
00:41What is really important is that the government provides Tasmanians with an official response
00:47that acknowledges the damning findings within the report and that within that response they
00:52commit to reversing those declines.
00:54The detailed examination of Tasmania's environment is meant to happen every five years, but this
01:00is the first report to be released in 15 years.
01:05After over a decade-long delay, the government has had plenty of time to consider the impacts
01:10on the environment and now we need to see an urgent response.
01:15The government says it's continuing to consider the state of environment report and its findings
01:20and says it's focused on getting the balance right between jobs and the economy, as well
01:25as protecting the environment.
01:27When we don't look after the iconic places in this island state, we lose one of our most
01:31booming industries, which is the tourism industry.
01:34There are also concerns about gaps in the report, with a question mark over the status
01:39of eight categories due to insufficient data.
01:43And there needs to be an overhaul of those systems, we need to have accurate monitoring
01:48so that the government can respond accordingly to the environmental declines that are occurring.
01:54An escalating challenge to protect the environment.
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