[Greens-Media] Macdonald’s Farm * clearfelled

[Ian Cohen]

Media Release							    25 August 2006

Macdonald’s Farm * clearfelled
ALP Government’s Private Native Forestry Betrayal

The NSW Government’s decision to scrap the Private Native Forestry Draft Code until after the state election is a massive betrayal of the state’s native forests, which will now be subject to indiscriminate panic logging for a further 10 months, said Greens Upper House MP Ian Cohen today.

“Proper regulation of logging on private land is now 10 years overdue. The Government already got an extension this year to delay the code until October. Now Minister Macdonald says he must re-start the consultation process. How much longer can the process possibly take? Delaying the implementation of the code until June next year will see millions of hectares of native forest, including rainforest and old growth, open to logging without any rules.” Mr Cohen said.

“The Primary Industries Minister is showing his true colours, delaying any regulation or protection of private native forests in NSW until after the next elections. He has caved in to pressure by the logging industry. This leaves 5 million hectares of the state’s forests open to destruction.

“Farmers have to go through negotiations with public authorities to clear native vegetation, but loggers on private land will continue be exempt from native vegetation laws. This is an astonishing double standard.

“The Greens will move in Parliament to disallow the regulation which the government will need to gazette in order to extend the exemption from Native Vegetation laws. The exemption is an unconscionable loophole for the destruction of our native forests and the many species that inhabit them.” Mr Cohen said.



Further Information: Ian Cohen 0409 989 466