Democrats Go Quietly as Government Reneges on Forestry Clause of Howard-Lees Pact

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

30 November 1999 

Democrats Go Quietly as Government Reneges on Forestry Clause of Howard-Lees
Pact


The Democrats have allowed the government to renege on a specific clause of
Prime Minister Howard's GST deal on 28 May, excluding forestry from the
off-road diesel fuel rebate concession (p.7 of 'Changes to the Goods and
Services Tax' appended to Mr Howard's letter to Senator Lees).

Senator Lees, reacting to Greens Senator Bob Brown's claim that the deal
subsidised logging of wild forests, told the Senate on 29 June that 'We have
increased the costs for forestry by 8c a litre.  It is probably not
something we should point out to the National Party...'.  Mr Howard gave
assurances on implementing the deal.

Tonight in the Senate, in a terse statement opposing the about-turn on the
8c subsidy for off-road logging machinery like bulldozers and skidders,
Democrat spokesperson Brian Greig gave no explanation about the government's
renege, or why Senator Lees has not confronted Mr Howard to insist that the
deal be honoured.

Senator Lees made no contribution to the debate.

More information
Ben Oquist.  02 6277 3170,  0419 704 095
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Ben Oquist
Greens Senator Bob Brown
Parliament House, Canberra 2600
Australia
+61 2 62773170 ph
+61 2 62773185 fx
www.greens.org.au/bobbrown
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