[Greens-Media] Call for govt to set up roundtable discussion on southeast forest dispute

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Release 
5 August 2005 


Call for government to set up roundtable discussion on southeast forest dispute


Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has urged the NSW government to initiate a meeting of all the groupings associated with protests in the southeast forests to help resolve the ongoing dispute about local logging practices.

"The NSW Labor government has to accept responsibility for the escalating tensions in the southeast forests. It is time they initiated talks with all the stakeholders," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"This Saturday's protest at Cobargo organised by Timber Communities Australia underlines the need for such an initiative.

"People have a right to protest and to participate in public activities without facing the threat of violence. Unfortunately there has been a number of incidents where people working to stop native forest logging have been threatened by people directly associated with a Forests NSW contractor. 

"Now is the time for the government to act. The fact that people who have physically attacked protesters working to protect the forests have not been charged, I believe, is effectively giving encouragement to these thugs. 

"The NSW government needs to call a combined discussion of the police, forest protesters and residents working to protect the forests, Forests NSW, the logging contractors and their supporters to establish a dialogue. 

"The first thing is to establish some ground rules to ensure that there is respect for the right to protest. If the law is broken the police have enormous powers to arrest people. Surely if violence is used the police should be instructed to arrest the perpetrators," Ms Rhiannon said. 


For more information - Kristian Bolwell - 92303551, 0411638320





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Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
Parliament of New South Wales
Macquarie St 
Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Email   lee.rhiannon at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web    www.nsw.greens.org.au/lee 

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