(For specific responses from forest campaign websites … click on Links, TT Masthead)
And,
What Bob reckons:
Howard fails on his Tasmanian forest promise
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What Peg reckons:
Peg Putt MHA
GREENS OPPOSITION LEADER
Friday, 13 MAY 2005DISMAY AS HOWARD-LENNON PACKAGE ABANDONS PROMISED LEVELS OF FOREST PROTECTION
The Tasmanian Greens today are upset that although the Howard-Lennon forests package rips off the name of the Greens’ Forest Transition Strategy, “Tasmania’s Forests: the Way Forward”, it fails to deliver promised levels of forest protection in Tasmania’s outstanding forests whilst spending a massive $220 million of taxpayers money which could have been used to achieve a much better outcome.
Greens Opposition Leader and Forests spokesperson Peg Putt MHA pointed out that although 170, 000 hectares of new reserves had been promised only 58, 000 hectares were to go into formal reserves, 38% of what is claimed to be protected, and none of these will have National Park or World Heritage status as they will all remain subject to mining.
The Greens are dismayed that 60% of so-called reserves are not formally protected and in reality constitute a deceptive counting in of the scraps and slivers inside forest production areas which would never have been logged under Forest Practices planning such as streamside reserves and isolated changes of threatened forest types.
Reserves Shortfall
“87% of the Tarkine thankfully gets formal reserve status, but not at the level of National Park or World Heritage which is what it deserves, because the deal allows for all the new reserves to be mined,” Ms Putt said.“The paltry amount of formal reserve protection is padded out with over 89, 250 hectares of informal reserves which are a con because they represent scraps and slivers inside logging areas like streamside reserves and isolated clumps of threatened forest types which adherence to forest practices laws already meant would not be cut.”
Weld
“The magnificent Weld Valley and the forests of the south have completely missed out on protection.”Blue Tier
“The area protected is miniscule compared with the community proposal for a 6, 000 hectare nature recreation area and in the context of over 158, 000 hectares available for logging in the district.”UNALLOCATED CROWN LAND
“The spin on making a virtue of not logging Crown land never allocated to logging in the first place shows the level of deception involved in selling this package.”No Additional Areas for Specialty Timbers Management/Beekeeping
“There is not a single extra hectare set aside for specialty timbers management.”Land clearing
“The recommended targets to restrain landclearing from the government expert advisory group CARSAG have not been taken up, but instead an incentive for ramped up forest destruction in the next few years has come into play.”End to Clearfelling
“Forget romantic notions of old-style selection logging, the plan is to move to clump clearfelling.”1080 Backdown
“Howard’s promise to end the use of 1080 on private land has vanished.”
Forest Furnaces
“Forest furnaces burning native forest for electricity get the go ahead although all other states on the eastern seaboard have ruled them out as an environmental travesty.”$2.2 million Snow Job
“Over $2 million of taxpayers money is to be spent on a massive green wash promoting this disappointing outcome for our forests as something desirable.”
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What the Libs reckon:
Media Release
RENE HIDDING, MHA
Leader of the State Opposition
Friday May 13, 2005Liberals welcome forestry package
Opposition Leader Rene Hidding today congratulated Prime Minister John Howard on the delivery of the Federal Government’s election commitment in relation to the world-class, sustainably managed Tasmanian forestry industry.
Mr Hidding said the scale of the package represented another major Federal Government investment in Tasmania, and it struck a sound balance between environmental and economic outcomes.
“In fact, this forestry package not only focuses on the protection of jobs, but offers the potential for significant job gains,” Mr Hidding said.
“This package protects the livelihoods of Tasmanians, particularly those living in regional communities.”
However, Mr Hidding said he noted comments by the TFGA today about farmers losing rights to private land clearing and will seek to gain a full understanding of the concerns of Tasmanians farmers on this issue
“While as a general principle, the State Liberals don’t believe that Tasmanian farmers should lose rights to private land use without appropriate compensation, we note the generous ten-year phase-out period in this matter.
“This package secures major benefits for the Tasmanian economy and the Tasmanian environment and has the support of the State Liberals.”
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What Mark reckons:
Friday May 13, 2005
Howard Government delivers on its Tasmanian forestry commitment – no jobs to be lost
The Federal Member for Braddon, Mark Baker MP, said today he has the upmost confidence that the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement will deliver on the Howard Liberal Government’s promise to the people of the North-West Coast that no jobs will be lost in any move to lock up Tasmanian forests.
Mr Baker said North-West voters had sent a clear message at last year’s Federal election that while they may like to see more native forests protected and a phasing out of clear-felling, they were not prepared to accept the loss of jobs.
“The Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement is the forestry package that a clear majority of North-West Tasmanians voted for at the last election,” he said.
“The agreement announced by the Prime Minister today safeguards the jobs of those employed in forestry in the North-West and with them the future of many small communities across the Coast, and particularly in Circular Head, which rely on this vital industry.
“That is the message that North-West Tasmanians will want to hear today.
“The Howard Liberal Government has shown time and time again that it understands the innate value of having a job; something that some radical environmentalists will perhaps never understand.
“Indeed, both the Australian and Tasmanian governments are confident that the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement investment of over $250m into our forest industry will actually provide for sustained jobs growth in the longer term.
“Today, we have delivered on our word of protecting jobs in the forest industry, and yet we will also significantly enhance the protection of native forests in Tasmania.”
Mr Baker said measures to provide additional protection of over 170,000 hectares on public and private land, phase out clear-felling, reduce the use of 1080, save the Tasmanian Devil and improve water quality in river catchments were responsible and achievable.
“This is a win-win for Tasmanian workers and the Tasmanian environment,” he said.
