The Greens .gif)
MEDIA RELEASE
November 5th, 2001
GREENS SUPPORT GIPPSLAND BLOCKADE
Scott Kinnear lead Senate Candidate for Victoria said today “The Greens
Victoria support the blockade in East Gippsland opposing logging in the
Yalmy water catchments for the Snowy River.”
“It is hypocritical of state and federal governments to strike a deal
on flows to the Snowy River and then log one of the most significant catchments
of the river below the dam, the Yalmy catchment.”
“Both major parties have failed to protect all remaining Old Growth
Forests in Victoria to the detriment of future generations.”
Background statement on Greens Policy on forests attached.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY – “STUMP TRUCK”
Scott Kinnear and candidate Peter Campbell (Kooyong) will discuss these
issues from the back of the "Stump Truck". This truck has a huge
stump from the East Gippsland Forests on board as it tours Victoria as
part of a Vote Forests Campaign.
Where: Camberwell Junction Carpark
Market Place (off Station Street) Map 45 J 12
Time: 2-3pm
More information: Scott Kinnear, Lead Senate Candidate, The Greens 0419
881 729
FOREST BACKGROUND STATEMENT 5 NOV 01
Scott Kinnear, The Australian Greens lead Senate candidate, and Peter Campbell,
the Greens candidate for Kooyong, call for a Royal Commission into the
Australia’s forest industries and an end to the export of woodchips.
Speaking next to the huge stump on a protest truck in Camberwell on Monday
5 November, Scott Kinnear said:
“The stump on this truck has come from a Victorian Forest - it
was left behind as waste. We have the highest rate of woodchip production
in Australia's history, with the lowest value product - export woodchips,
for the fewest jobs - the industry is shedding workers due to increased
automation”
Peter Campbell said: “Melbourne's and Geelong's water catchments
are being logged, including the Snowy River, Upper Yarra, Thompson River,
the Otway Ranges and the Wombat State Forest. This is a local issue
for the people of Kooyong, Geelong and East Gippsland as logging of catchments
is decreasing the quality and quantity or our water in the world’s driest
continent. This has to stop.”
Scott Kinnear said, “The Greens call for:
-
A Royal Commission into the forest industry, with the loss of jobs in the
terms of reference
-
The scrapping of the flawed and unworkable Regional Forest Agreements -
these agreements have grossly overstated sustainable yields and do not
protect the biodiversity of our forests
-
An end to the export of woodchips and the clear felling of native forest
and rainforest.
-
Investment in clean green (zero dioxin output) paper mills, to increase
local employment and develop technologies that can be exported
-
End logging in water catchments and high-conservation value native forests
- these need to be defined by the Royal Commission and protected.
Trees up to 90 metres tall are still being logged in Tasmania’s Styx forest.
Forest giants are being felled in East Gippsland. These forests must
be protected - they cannot be replaced.
-
Government support and subsidies for converting timber mills from hardwood
processing so that they are re-tooled for handling softwood
-
Increased development of forest-based eco-tourism so that ongoing jobs
are created in this growth sector.
-
No forest furnaces for burning woodchips for electricity - this a corruption
of the renewable energies act and a national disgrace for the Howard Government.
Peter Campbell said “The Greens also support the creation of the Trans-Otway
Walking Track through the Otway Ranges forest and rainforest, as an international
drawcard for visitor seeking a genuine wilderness experience, similar to
the walks so popular in Tasmania (such as the Overland Track)”
Contact Scott Kinnear (0409 881 729) or Peter Campbell (0409 417 504)
for more information.