In the Senate this afternoon the Liberals blocked a vote on Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown’s motion condemning the Liberals’ failure to provide a constructive alternative to scores of contractors facing market downturn, closures of three export woodchip mills and regional areas of Tasmania the development opportunities the package will provide.

The Greens allowed a vote on two Liberal motions on the same issue last week.

“This is a Liberal effort to block $80 million flowing to Tasmanian forestry contractors facing business ruin.

“Liberal Leader Senator Abetz is saying to the Gillard government ‘don’t send the $80m to Tasmania, spend it elsewhere,’” Senator Brown said.