Thread by @trentonjhoare

Here is my email to @RuthForrestMLC regarding #politas anti-protest legislation. Check the 🧵🔽

Dear Hon. Ruth Forrest MLC,
I am writing to you in regards to The Police Offences (Workplace Safety) Amendment Bill 2022. As a Tasmanian resident who has lived here all their life, I find this Bill a breach of our democracy and I urge you to vote it down after the winter break.

The Police Offences (Workplace Safety) Amendment Bill 2022 is opposed by unions, social sector organisations, a diverse range of community and environmental groups, legal experts, and human rights activists.

These groups and individuals from across the political spectrum are united and need sensible politicians like yourself to stand alongside them in solidarity.

I understand that this must be a difficult decision for you because this Bill is clearly to stop the @BobBrownFndn from defending the carbon-rich native forests of takayna/Tarkine, in which a portion of your constituents are employed.

As an independent member of parliament, you would understand that we are in a climate emergency and we must act sooner rather than later to ensure a safe future for those who will come after us.

You would also acknowledge that there is a lack of political willingness (thanks to corporate donations) to act against climate crimes such as deforestation.

The recent report by Dr. Jen Sanger (as I'm sure you have read) has highlighted that native forest logging is the highest carbon-emitting sector on this island. Releasing more than 4.65 million tonnes of carbon each year which is 2.5 times the entire Tasmanian transport sector.

We continue to see outdated industries like native forest logging being endorsed by our governments, and those who stand up and speak out against it, are silenced. We have the democratic right to peacefully protest. Others across the world do not have the privilege to even vote.

We have the right to speak out and voice our opinions in a non-harmful or dangerous way, like this email I have sent you. Others across the globe, do not.

For Tasmanians to be told when and where they can peacefully protest, or what they are allowed to speak up against, is very undemocratic. Sounds very authoritarian to me and that is not the future I want for my home.

Our island home has a rich history of our people standing up and speaking out against environmental and social issues.

The Franklin River, Tamar Valley pulp mill, LGBTQIA+ law reforms, and the best anti-discrimination laws in the country to just name a few achievements that Tasmanians have stood up and spoken out against or for, in a peaceful and democratic way.

Do we want to stop there? Have we reached capacity and now only the wealthy and privileged few can decide when and where people can make a stand? We are known for our wild places, do we want them all turned into woodchips?

Ms. Forrest, for Tasmania, its rich democratic history, its people, and its future, please vote against this piece of legislation. Your voting record has shown us that you care, do not let us down.