Forests Bill Will Not Pass Senate This Week

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

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11 February 2002 

Forests Bill Will Not Pass Senate This Week

The contentious Regional Forests Agreements (RFA) Bill will fail to pass the
Senate this week, Greens Senator Bob Brown said today.

Senator Brown said he would oppose the bill being exempted from the usual
Senate procedure (the Senate 'cut-off' standing order) that would normally
prevent the bill being debated this week.  

"I will be calling on the ALP and Democrats to back my stance and not allow
the bill to be fast tracked," Senator Brown said.

The bill, the only one listed by the Howard Government for the Senate's
first week of sittings, offers woodchip companies millions of dollars
'compensation' if there is any future federal action to protect wild forests
covered by RFAs in Australia.

"I will be moving amendments to ensure woodchip corporations like Gunns
compensate forest workers who are sacked and compensate state and local
governments for the huge costs of regional roads, in damage and upgrading,
caused by log trucks.  In Tasmania alone the roads are pounded by more than
100 000 log trucks each year, including B-doubles.

"I will also move amendments for the woodchip companies to be liable for
detriment to the tourism industry and damage to water catchments.

"This is the fourth time the government has tried to get the RFA legislation
through the parliament.  It will certainly not pass the Senate this week and
I anticipate a long debate", said Senator Brown.

Senator Brown, who visited environmentalists blockading forest destruction
in the Weld Valley yesterday, called on the ALP to vote against the RFA Bill
unless it is amended to ensure that each RFA is vetted by parliament.

More information: Ben Oquist 02 62773170 or 0419704095


Ben Oquist
Greens Senator Bob Brown
02 62773170 ph
02 62773185 fx
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