Opposition questions the government's commitment to timber resource management, suggesting it's influenced by the Greens' support for electoral reform. The Premier denies vacillation, affirming the end of old-growth forest logging and a scientific approach to future planning.

AnsweredQoN 371Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 September 2001
Member
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

TIMBER INDUSTRY, SUPPORT FROM THE GREENS (WA)
Is it true that the Government is vacillating on the timber resource quantities because it is reluctant to upset the Greens in the other place, whose support the Government requires to get its electoral reform legislation through the Legislative Council? Dr GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

There is no vacillation. The policy we announced at the election has been implemented. We have ended the logging of old-growth forests. Those opposite told us we could not do it. We have done it; it has happened. As the member knows, the forest management plan and sustainable timber volumes have still to be determined. We will do that in a scientific and proper framework, in keeping with our policy of ending logging in old-growth forests. That is very clear. There is no vacillation on this. A proper and scientific process is being followed, as the Minister for the Environment and Heritage indicated in her answer to the member for Alfred Cove, and it will result in a stronger Western Australia. The process is based on the conservation of our old-growth forests and recognition of the needs and interests of the communities affected by that policy.
Dr GALLOP replied: There is no vacillation. The policy we announced at the election has been implemented. We have ended the logging of old-growth forests. Those opposite told us we could not do it. We have done it; it has happened. As the member knows, the forest management plan and sustainable timber volumes have still to be determined. We will do that in a scientific and proper framework, in keeping with our policy of ending logging in old-growth forests. That is very clear. There is no vacillation on this. A proper and scientific process is being followed, as the Minister for the Environment and Heritage indicated in her answer to the member for Alfred Cove, and it will result in a stronger Western Australia. The process is based on the conservation of our old-growth forests and recognition of the needs and interests of the communities affected by that policy.
There is no vacillation. The policy we announced at the election has been implemented. We have ended the logging of old-growth forests. Those opposite told us we could not do it. We have done it; it has happened. As the member knows, the forest management plan and sustainable timber volumes have still to be determined. We will do that in a scientific and proper framework, in keeping with our policy of ending logging in old-growth forests. That is very clear. There is no vacillation on this. A proper and scientific process is being followed, as the Minister for the Environment and Heritage indicated in her answer to the member for Alfred Cove, and it will result in a stronger Western Australia. The process is based on the conservation of our old-growth forests and recognition of the needs and interests of the communities affected by that policy.

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