Commownealth $273,109 for logging industry robber taxpayers - Brown

[Willis, Katrina (Sen B. Brown)]

---------------------
Another message from the GREENS-MEDIA maillist.
You are subscribed as: chris at sw.oz.au
Manage your subscription on the list home page at:
http://www.altnews.com.au/greens/
---------------------

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 19 May 2004

Commonwealth $273,190 for logging industry robbed taxpayers - Brown

The revelation that the Commonwealth has spent over a quarter of a
million dollars working out how to log Deep Red Myrtle in Tasmania's
Tarkine reveals a political process whereby taxpayers, most of whom want
the Tarkine saved, are paying for logging assessments, Greens Senator
Bob Brown said today.

Senator Brown released answers from Forestry Minister Ian Macdonald to
questions on notice in the Senate showing that the Commonwealth has so
far spent $273,190 to evaluate issues associated with logging Deep Red
Myrtle.

"The Commonwealth has taken taxpayers for a ride - it has spent $4878
for every page of a 55-page report to justify logging the Tarkine
rainforests when, under the Regional Forest Agreement the Tasmanian
government had responsibility for doing the work," Senator Brown said.

"It is effectively an undeclared public subsidy to one company, Britton
Brothers, the beneficiary of the proposed logging.

"The Commonwealth should have instead provided the $273,190 to evaluate
the effects of logging on threatened animals like the giant freshwater
crayfish, Astacopsis, the Spot-tailed Quoll, the Wedgetailed eagle and
all the as yet undiscovered invertebrates in the Tarkine rainforests.

"The Commonwealth should explain this expenditure, including who applied
for the money, who decided the expenditure, and whether the benefit to
Britton Brothers was disclosed."

To access the report
http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/policy/rfa/index.html#review
<http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/policy/rfa/index.html> 

More information: 03 62 341 633; Cate Weate 0405 173 704
Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation


SENATE QUESTION

Question No 2502

Senator Brown asked the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and
Conservation, upon notice, on 13 January 2004:

With reference to the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA):

(1) (a)	How much Commonwealth funding has been spent directly or
indirectly through the RFA process to evaluate the availability and
other issues associated with logging Deep Red Myrtle (DRM); and (b) can
details be provided of individual projects.

(2) Why was 4,500 m3 per annum of DRM chosen as the supply benchmark in
section 55 of the RFA; and (b) in what way could the supply of this
quantity be considered 'ecologically sustainable'.

(3) What volume of DRM has actually been supplied from public land in
each of the past 10 years; and (b) how does this compare with the 4,500
m3 per annum benchmark.


SENATOR MACDONALD - The answer to the Honourable Senator's question is
as follows:

(1) (a) $273,190.

(b) Project details are provided in the Tasmanian Government "Review of
the Deep
Red Myrtle Resource in Tasmania", April 2002, available from its
website.

(2) (a) The 4,500 cubic metres was the supply level proposed in the
Tasmanian
Forests and Forest Industry Strategy. 

(b) This level was based on the best available information at the time.

(3) (a) Figure 3.2 of the Review at 1(b) above provides myrtle sawlog
and outspec
volumes supplied from public land in Tasmania each year from 1995/96.
Further
information should be sought from the Tasmanian Government.

(b) See 3 (a) above.








-------------------------
Support your List Server:
DOMAIN NAMES: http://altnews.com.au/register/
HOSTING: http://altnews.com.au/sales/
PHONE: low cost calls at http://us.altnews.com.au/1cell/
-------------------------
Hosted by Alternative News Network, Cairns, tropical north Queensland, Australia
-------------------------