Tasmania is set for a logging rampage in existing reserves and previously agreed future reserves as the Tasmanian government has gagged debate and pushed through legislation that turns back the clock to rainforest destruction.
Parliament has been informed that there is enough specialty species timber in the permanent timber production zones controlled by Forestry Tasmania to maintain supply for the foreseeable future, yet the government has persisted in making a further 1.5 million hectares available in a controversial and convoluted arrangement.
“Sadly this new logging rampage was sanctioned despite an outpouring of community concern when it became public that hundreds of existing reserves can now become subject to a logging assault alongside abandonment of the promised ‘peace deal’ reserves,” said Peg Putt, CEO of Markets For Change.
“The Premier received 1800 letters of concern since Friday, but has ignored the lot.
“A convoluted arrangement deliberately attempts to quarantine Forestry Tasmania from the ramifications of opening protected rainforests to logging, so that instead the Minister responsible for Parks and Wildlife is laughably put in charge of logging in the controversial 1.5 million hectares.
“This is a tricky attempt to circumvent Forest Stewardship Council requirements rather than ensure that no logging unacceptable to FSC occurs in Tasmania.
“In fact a requirement that special species logging conform to certification requirements of Forestry Tasmania, including FSC, has now been abandoned.”
• Kim Booth: Special Species Logging Must Comply with FSC Requirements “The Liberals’ flawed trash the forest industry Bill, gagged and rammed through the Lower House under the cover of darkness, was heavily amended regarding the special species timber sector,” said Greens Leader and Forestry spokesperson Kim Booth MP. “”Amongst the amendments was a crucial one which deleted the original Bill’s requirement that special species logging had to comply with Forestry Tasmania’s certification requirements, which is FSC. Instead special species management plans are now to be developed. The Greens challenge both the Forestry Minister, Paul Harriss, and the special species timber sector to ensure that any future special species management plan must still comply with FSC standards and requirements.”
RELATED …
• Lismore backs Tassie on right to protest Darren Coyne’s report in Echo Net Daily: Australia is in the midst of ‘early onset fascism’, a Lismore rally against Tasmania anti-protest laws heard yesterday.
• mr t, in Comments: I note Glenn Britton has continued Terry Edwards’ plea for environmental groups to be included on the government’s forest advisory group. http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-03/sawmiller-predicts-few-new-jobs-to-follow-tear-up-of-the-forest/5715276 They can see down the track much clearer than the vengeful eyes of Harriss and Abetz. No FSC, no markets and, it seems at best, native forest fuelled power stations. The shallow argument of special timbers is as accurate as the old sawlog driven woodchip industry. Exactly what could environmental groups add to a Harriss advisory group?
• John Hawkins, in Comments: The Examiner online notes that Harriss has given the Forestry industry another “Carrot” of $7 million – http://www.examiner.com.au/story/2535586/7m-carrot-to-remain-in-forestry/?cs=95 – I suggested that we should ensure that this juicy beauty should be laced with 1080. Harriss gave FT $6 or was it $7 million last week so $14 million in two weeks. In 3 years the Tasmanian Forestry industry has clipped our ticket for $130 million, Letter of Comfort and $270 million under TFA. All that lovely lolly …
• Christine Milne: $7 million should be handed back, not out
