The Minister criticises the Opposition's proposed logging policy of 180,000 cubic metres of jarrah, deeming it unsustainable and environmentally damaging, while promoting the Labor government's sustainable forest management.

AnsweredQoN 899Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 August 2003
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

Can the minister explain the implications of the Opposition’s policy for an annual yield of 180 000 cubic metres of first and second-grade jarrah logs? Dr J.M. EDWARDS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for her very important question. I was very concerned to read about this policy following the recent Liberal Party conference. It shows a complete disregard for the environment. There is no way that the proposal to log 180 000 cubic metres represents ecologically sustainable forest management. The principle of ESFM was written into the relevant Acts by the previous Government. It must be recognised that ESFM is about sustainable logging and the protection of biodiversity in the forests. The community has been loud and clear in telling us all that it wants the forests protected. It wants logging in old-growth forests to stop. We have delivered on that, and we will deliver on ESFM. The Opposition’s figure has no science behind it. It does not appear to take into account the impact of dieback or the decline in rainfall. The figure has been plucked out of the air. There can be no doubt that if this Opposition were ever to return to power, we would see the logging of our old-growth forests, fauna habitat zones, habitat trees and high-conservation areas. Only a Labor Government can deliver a sustainable forest policy, and we are doing that.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for her very important question. I was very concerned to read about this policy following the recent Liberal Party conference. It shows a complete disregard for the environment. There is no way that the proposal to log 180 000 cubic metres represents ecologically sustainable forest management. The principle of ESFM was written into the relevant Acts by the previous Government. It must be recognised that ESFM is about sustainable logging and the protection of biodiversity in the forests. The community has been loud and clear in telling us all that it wants the forests protected. It wants logging in old-growth forests to stop. We have delivered on that, and we will deliver on ESFM. The Opposition’s figure has no science behind it. It does not appear to take into account the impact of dieback or the decline in rainfall. The figure has been plucked out of the air. There can be no doubt that if this Opposition were ever to return to power, we would see the logging of our old-growth forests, fauna habitat zones, habitat trees and high-conservation areas. Only a Labor Government can deliver a sustainable forest policy, and we are doing that.
I thank the member for her very important question. I was very concerned to read about this policy following the recent Liberal Party conference. It shows a complete disregard for the environment. There is no way that the proposal to log 180 000 cubic metres represents ecologically sustainable forest management. The principle of ESFM was written into the relevant Acts by the previous Government. It must be recognised that ESFM is about sustainable logging and the protection of biodiversity in the forests. The community has been loud and clear in telling us all that it wants the forests protected. It wants logging in old-growth forests to stop. We have delivered on that, and we will deliver on ESFM. The Opposition’s figure has no science behind it. It does not appear to take into account the impact of dieback or the decline in rainfall. The figure has been plucked out of the air. There can be no doubt that if this Opposition were ever to return to power, we would see the logging of our old-growth forests, fauna habitat zones, habitat trees and high-conservation areas. Only a Labor Government can deliver a sustainable forest policy, and we are doing that.
The Opposition’s figure has no science behind it. It does not appear to take into account the impact of dieback or the decline in rainfall. The figure has been plucked out of the air. There can be no doubt that if this Opposition were ever to return to power, we would see the logging of our old-growth forests, fauna habitat zones, habitat trees and high-conservation areas. Only a Labor Government can deliver a sustainable forest policy, and we are doing that.

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