Question regarding the discrepancy between the Premier's election promise of protecting 346,000 hectares of old-growth forest and the claim that 14,500 hectares have been lost due to dieback. The Premier refutes the claim, stating logged areas cannot be considered old-growth forest.

AnsweredQoN 1076Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 September 2003
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

I have a supplementary question. In his election promise it was 346 000 hectares. Is the Premier saying that the 14 500 hectares of old-growth forest have disappeared because of dieback? Dr G.I. GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

I made the point at the beginning of the answer that some of the forest had actually been logged. How could it be old-growth forest if it was logged? The member is putting forward a ludicrous proposition. I am confident that the public of Western Australia understands the definition of “old-growth”. I am confident that when we say to the public of Western Australia that we have stopped logging the old-growth forests, it understands that we have delivered.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I made the point at the beginning of the answer that some of the forest had actually been logged. How could it be old-growth forest if it was logged? The member is putting forward a ludicrous proposition. I am confident that the public of Western Australia understands the definition of “old-growth”. I am confident that when we say to the public of Western Australia that we have stopped logging the old-growth forests, it understands that we have delivered.
I made the point at the beginning of the answer that some of the forest had actually been logged. How could it be old-growth forest if it was logged? The member is putting forward a ludicrous proposition. I am confident that the public of Western Australia understands the definition of “old-growth”. I am confident that when we say to the public of Western Australia that we have stopped logging the old-growth forests, it understands that we have delivered.

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