Former NSW Premier Nathan Rees has committed an act of treachery towards the forestry industry before being knifed in the back by the Labor Party yesterday.

As his final desperate act, Nathan Rees announced the creation of a 42,000 hectare national park in the south west of NSW, locking up thousands of hectares of land used by the generations-old forestry industry.

It has been reported this decision was Mr Rees’ parting swipe at right-wing elements of the Labor Party who were responsible for his downfall.

Federal Coalition spokesman for Forestry, Senator Richard Colbeck, said the decision to lock up the land in a National Park to supposedly protect the river red gum forests would devastate local forestry businesses, lead to greater unemployment and damage the economies of rural communities.

“The independent consultative process being carried out the Natural Resources Commission was due to deliver its assessment report on the river red gum forests on December 21, but Mr Rees could not wait to spite his Labor colleagues.

“Along the way, Mr Rees has completely devastated the local forestry industry and rural communities.

“Mr Rees couldn’t give two hoots about the economic lifeblood of thousands of forestry workers, their families and communities.

“This decision was purely about him and his revenge on factional enemies.”

Senator Colbeck said there is evidence that locking up the forests in a National Park could do more harm than good.

“The forestry industry has been dedicated to sustainable forestry practices, particularly in trying climatic times over recent years where there has been little to no water for the forests.

“The thinning of trees using sustainable forestry practices has meant that water starved forests have been kept alive. Under a restrictive National Park system, these river red gum forests would have almost certainly been wiped out.”

Senator Colbeck called on Federal Forestry Minister, Tony Burke, a well known leader of the Right Faction in the NSW Labor Party to exert pressure on the new NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally, to reverse her predecessor’s crazy decision.

“Minister Burke should immediately ring his factional colleague Premier Keneally and demand a policy reversal and ensure the forestry industry in south west NSW is not completely abandoned by the Labor Party,” Senator Colbeck said.
SENATOR THE HON RICHARD COLBECK Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator for Tasmania