Mr Booth said yesterday that he had agreed to sell the book through his mill and timber yards in Hobart and northern Tasmania because: "I was horrified that the National Association of Forest Industries were basically being a bunch of barbarians who would burn books." He said that the association, which recently lobbied BBC Hardware not to stock the book, did not represent the views of most smaller operators in the industry. "They represent the woodchip multinationals... I've had a look at the book, and what NAFI says is an absolutely monstrous lie," he said.
The book's co-editor and director of Earth Garden Books, Mr Alan Gray, said up to a dozen sawmillers and timber merchants had privately expressed similar views to Mr Booth. "Most of them are very nervous. They are dead scared of the publicity, but some might be prepared to say it publicly," he said.
The association's executive director, Dr Robert Bain, said he was not surprised by Mr Booth's decision. "He's a green politician, and the fact is he has also been importing native Forest timbers from North America." Dr Bain said the book was "inaccurate, misleading and deceitful" and may breach the Trade Practices Act.
Forest-Friendly Building Timbers discusses using plantation and recycled
timber instead of wood from native forests. The Australian Competition
and Consumer Commission's investigation of BBC Hardware's decision not
to stock the book may be completed this week.