The Senate Select Committee on South West Tasmania was appointed by Senate Resolution on 23 September 1981. The original members of the Committee were Senators Archer (Chairman), Siddons, Coates, Hill, Missen and Primmer. Senator Siddons was replaced by Senator Chipp on 27 October 1981. The Committee was to inquire into and report on the following matters:
 
  (a) the natural values of South West Tasmania to Australia and the
      world;
 
  (b) Federal responsibility in assisting Tasmania to preserve its
      wilderness areas of national and international importance,
      including appropriate financial assistance consistent with
      the State's development needs and options for the State's
      energy requirements; and
 
  (c) the future energy needs and options for Tasmania's energy
      requirements.
 
The Committee called for written submissions and a total of 746 were received from individuals (562), community groups and trade unions (143) and Commonwealth, State and local government (20).
 
The Committee conducted public hearings in Hobart, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne beginning on 4 February 1982. In December 1981, the Committee visited Lake Gordon, Lake Pedder and associated dams and power stations. On 3 March 1982, the Committee made an aerial inspection of South West Tasmania by helicopter.
 
A firm of consultants, McLachlan Group Pty Ltd, were engaged by the Committee to assist in the technical and economic aspects of the inquiry.
 
The first report 'Demand and Supply of Electricity for Tasmania and Other Matters' (Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper No 314, 1982) was tabled on 23 November 1982, together with the Transcripts of Evidence.

At this time the Senate amended the resolution appointing the Committee to the effect that '... the Committee shall not be taken to have finally reported to the Senate until it indicates that a report is its final report.'

On 25 November 1982 the Committee tabled the following Reports by McLachlan Group Pty Ltd, consultants to the Committee:

    Electrical Energy Demand, dated 9 June 1982.
    Electrical Energy Supply, dated 24 August 1982.

On 16 December 1982 the Committee informed the Senate that it had resolved that it will continue to examine:

  (a) The natural values of South West Tasmania; and
  (b) the environmental effects of the electricity supply options.

The Committee also resolved to establish a sub-committee to examine other land uses, such as mining, forestry, tourism and recreation, which may affect the preservation of Tasmania's wilderness areas. The Committee expected to present its second report on these matters to the Senate by April 1983.

The Committee did not present any further reports. As the Committee was not reconstituted in the 33rd Parliament, it is considered to have ended on the dissolution of the 32nd Parliament on 7 April 1983.

 
Sources

1. Report on the Demand and Supply of Electricity for Tasmania and   
   other Matters. Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper No 314, 1982  
2. Senate. Weekly Hansard No 17, 1981, pp 920-929
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