The Labor and Coalition parties are locked in a race to the bottom to shed responsibility for protecting Australia’s environment and clear the way for big business in their greed for short-term mining profits, the Australian Greens said today.

“George Orwell would be impressed by Tony Abbott claiming to be a conservationist while launching an assault on our country’s environmental protection laws, but people really don’t like two-faced politicians who say one thing while doing another,” Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

Released footage of a diseased Tasmanian devil in an area of the Tarkine earmarked for mining development shows there is an urgent need for federal government intervention before the devil slides into extinction, Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Christine Milne said today.

"This is the news that has long been feared. The Tasmanian devil's final disease free stronghold in the Tarkine has now been breached.

When I developed the Tasmanian Business and Industry Strategy in the 1990's to transform our failing economy from a dig it up and cut it down "quarry" to one based on our world renowned natural advantages, I emphasised that "Clean and Green" would only be successful, if it was authentic.

You cannot sell a lie and get away with it indefinitely. Protection of the brand is all important in business and it is all important to Tasmania.

Today's review of Forestry Tasmania confirms the government enterprise is a failed business enterprise and shows viable overseas markets for pulp wood have dried up as the Greens predicted back in the early 1990s, Australian Greens Acting Leader Christine Milne said today.

"The URS-Deloitte report clearly shows there are no viable overseas markets for native forest woodchips or pulp logs. China is volatile and will only buy the pulp wood at extremely low prices.

"We will be paying the Chinese to take the forests away if we go down that path.

Ta Ann's Japanese customers in Tasmania today should know the truth behind the products misleadingly sold to them as sustainably sourced, Australian Greens Acting Leader, Christine Milne said today.

"It comes as no surprise that Ta Ann has fronted the media today to pre-empt a protest held outside its premises in which environment groups demanded the company tell the truth behind its so-called Eco Ply product.

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, is facing strong criticism as news of her broken promise to protect more than 430,000 hectares of native Tasmanian forest is broadcast on the global stage from Miranda Gibson's tree sit high up in the Tasmanian southern forests, Australian Greens Acting Leader, Christine Milne said today.

The Australian Greens are popular and support is growing, and a slap from a government minister is just part of the political debate which is increasingly demonstrating that Labor - whether it's the mining tax or pokies reform - will opt for the interests of big business over working people almost every time, Acting Leader Christine Milne said today.

In this, the Australian Year of the Farmer, the Australian Greens encourage all Australians to support our farmers by putting Australian food and beverages on the table as families and communities join together to enjoy Australia Day, Acting Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne said today.

"The "Eat Australian on Australia Day" campaign is a great initiative supporting our primary producers and showcasing the best of the food, wines, beers and soft drinks grown and processed in Australia. I urge all Australians to get behind it.