Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne says this weekend's report from the World Heritage Committee (WHC) should send a strong signal that Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Premier Will Hodgman will not get away with their blatant attempt to undermine the values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

By Senator Christine Milne

Everywhere I go across Australia people can't stop telling me how much they loved their trip to Tasmania, how beautiful our state is and how delicious our food and beverages are.

While we should all be proud of our outstanding producers, a couple of important reasons to support local food get lost in all the enthusiasm about the highest end products.

We locals know most Tasmanian produce is sold interstate or overseas - that's why it's often hard to find locally grown fruit, vegetables and meat in the supermarkets.

The Tasmanian Government can't be trusted to look after our wilderness, Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said today, following the release of evidence it ignored scientific advice not to log swift parrot habitat.

Senator Milne also released her submission to the Wilderness World Heritage Area draft management plan process in which she slams the government's commitment to the area.

"The Tasmanian Government has reduced funding for our wilderness area, it wants to log and mine it, and sell it off to private developers.

Submission from Senator Christine Milne

I have a strong interest in the management of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) and am totally committed to upholding the Convention and its Operational Guidelines, which make clear the responsibility of the State Party, Australia, to uphold and enhance the Outstanding Universal Values of a property.

What is being proposed in Tasmania is wrong and is in contravention of the Convention and its Operational Guidelines.

Greens Leader Christine Milne has welcomed extra federal funding for Tasmanian freight subsidies, but says overall the Abbott government is leaving the state worse off.

"Mr Abbott, we welcome some help with the Freight Equalisation Scheme, but we recognise that you've taken more from Tasmania than you're giving back," Senator Milne said.

"Last year Mr Abbott's government cut back the level of subsidy going to the Freight Equalisation Scheme, so they're making up for what they took out, but at the same time they're attacking health and education services in Tasmania.

The realities of global warming are pushing the world to abandon fossil fuels and take up renewable energy at an ever increasing rate.

Tasmania's investment in renewable energy and our as yet untapped solar and geothermal resources, place us in a prime position to flourish this century.

We need to capitalise on these natural advantages to attract energy users to the state who want the clean brand. These businesses can help us drive Tasmania's new, clean economy.

What we don't need is gas and oil fracking.

The announcement today that Cadbury has backed out of Tony Abbott’s $16 million promise opens the way for him to fund a new cable connecting Tasmania to the global data network, Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

“Tony Abbott promised $16 million to help Tasmanian jobs during the election campaign, and that money should still flow to enabling infrastructure which will massively boost jobs and innovative business in Tasmania.

Senator Ricky Muir has this afternoon said in the Senate he will support exemptions for heavy industry and the inclusion of electricity generation from burning native forests within the Renewable Energy Target.

"Exemptions for heavy industry and inclusion of energy generated from burning native forests in the Renewable Energy Target would be a disaster. It would do even more to destroy confidence in Australian clean energy," Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

The Australian Greens say massive cuts to research and development, passed through the Senate today by the Liberals, Nationals, Palmer United Party and Independent Nick Xenophon, is another act of intergenerational theft.

"Cutting support for research and development is a short-sighted way to balance the Budget and will help drive the country's investment in research to a 30-year low," said Greens science, research and innovation spokesperson Adam Bandt MP.