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In its presentation to the branch, the group said the ALP won the federal Ryan byelection on Green preferences after promising to end land clearing, while Labor won office in Western Australia promising to end logging in old-growth forests. It said the federal election and the fate of the Labor government at the next state election could also be determined by green votes.
"Still, the Minister for Environment and Conservation, Sherryl Garbutt, persists with clearfell logging, clearfelling areas around waterfalls, clearfelling catchments, clearfelling old-growth forest stands and mixed-species rainforests, and clearfelling potential environmental votes."
About 50 branches have invited the group to speak at meetings, despite an appeal by Ms Garbutt last month for branches to deal with forestry issues through the party's policy committees. The closing of ranks against Ms Garbutt came as the second week of a forest blockade near Lavers Hill in the Otways closed with no further arrests.
About 10 protesters are on platforms strung on cables between the trees to prevent their felling in the contentious Ciancio block, which borders endangered rainforest. Supporters are camped below them.
Logging crews were sent to Ciancio two weeks ago after Ms Garbutt denied she had agreed at meetings last year not to log contentious blocks in return for no blockading in other parts of the forest.
Members of the ALP Otway Ranges Interest Group have appealed to ALP
branches, policy committees, MPs and factions to support a motion to the
party's October state conference to end clearfelling in the Otways.
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