[Greens-Media] Iemma Government Undermines Wran*s Forest Protection Legacy

[Dominika Rajewski]

Media
Release								09
May 2006			
Iemma Government Undermines Wran's Forest Protection Legacy 

The Iemma Government has replaced Neville Wran's legacy of rainforest
protection with spin by allowing rainforest logging on private land to
go on virtually unchecked, Greens MLC Ian Cohen said today.

Former Labor Premier Wran yesterday launched a book about his 10 years
in power, citing environmental protection as one of his key
achievements.

Today in Question Time Mr Cohen asked Minister Macdonald why the
government was continuing to allow rainforest logging on private land. 

"The Minister's response was a commitment to the forestry industry,
and his assertion that a Code of Practice was being developed is of
little comfort, considering that the code is now two years overdue."
Mr Cohen said.

"The government has been dragging its tail on developing a Code of
Practice for private native forestry. The draft code fails the
environment dismally. Among other things the code does not require field
surveys or improving knowledge of threatened species.

"Under the Native Vegetation Act any logging must be shown to
'maintain or improve environmental outcomes'. This is hardly the
case where rainforest and old growth forest is being logged.

"Between 35 and 40 per cent of remaining forests in NSW are on
private land, containing extensive high conservation areas. The
government must act urgently to give permanent protection to high
conservation forests on private land. It should revise the draft code of
practice to ensure that it offers strong protection to rainforest, old
growth and other high conservation forests, and release the code as a
matter of urgency." Mr Cohen said.




Further Information: Ian Cohen, 9230 2603 or 0409 989 466


Dominika Rajewski
Adviser to Ian Cohen, MLC
NSW Parliament
e. dominika.rajewski at parliament.nsw.gov.au
ph. (02) 9230 2204
fax (02) 9230 2267