The Australian GREENS

MEDIA RELEASE

PETER CAMPBELL, CANDIDATE FOR KOOYONG

Friday 24 September 2004

Howard equivocates on forests

Peter Campbell, the Australian Greens Candidate for Kooyong stated today “John Howard has recently made some encouraging statements on protecting iconic Tasmanian native forests such as the Tarkine and the Styx, but it looks like he may be now losing his nerve”

“If Howard caves in on forests due to union and Gunns Limited pressure it will not only be a national disaster, it will be a national disgrace” Mr Campbell said.

“The tired old mantra of ‘jobs before forests’ is simply not valid any more. Chief operations officer Andrew Jakab, from Sawmiller Auspine, has just announced a $450 million plan to reinvigorate Tasmania's forest industry - but he cannot get a politician to even consider it.

“The fact is that there are enough jobs in the plantation and associated value-adding industries to provide employment for the relatively few people engaged in clear felling and woodchipping of native forests. There is also huge potential for employment in forest-based ecotourism – but not if we chop our forests down.” Mr Campbell said.

“It will be a sad day for our forests if the CFMEU and Gunns Limited get their way and are allowed to destroy what is left of Tasmania’s iconic native forests that are not protected from the ravages of an industry out of control.

“Polls have clearly shown that over 80% of the public want our iconic native forests protected, and that many will consider this when casting their vote.

“Lets hope that the Government and the Opposition both have the vision to protect Tasmania’s iconic forests and put industry on a sound footing for the future based on our burgeoning plantation resources. This is a win-win solution – we just need the political will to implement it” Mr Campbell said.

-ENDS-

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For more information, please contact:

Peter Campbell, Greens candidate for Kooyong, Telephone: 0409 417 504

Simon Lansdown, Media Officer, Telephone: 0415 535 564