ENGOs rewrite history on Tasmanian forest negotiations

The integrity of the green groups involved in the Tasmanian forest negotiations is in question after they failed to support ongoing supply to Tasmania’s timber industry in the recently released Conservation Agreement between the State and Federal Governments.

The Wilderness Society, Environment Tasmania and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) have publicly criticised the announcement that 2,000 hectares of their forest reserve claim will remain available to supply Tasmania’s remaining sawmills and veneer mills. This is despite 99.5 per cent of their claim being set aside in interim reserve pending verification and is in line with the original Statement of Principles, which they signed, agreeing that current supply contracts would be delivered.

“These groups agreed to such ongoing supply in the Statement of Principles signed by them in December 2010, but have now publicly criticised the provisions made by government to meet this requirement,” said AFPA Chief Executive David Pollard.

“The wood requirements were assessed by independent experts agreed to by the groups. This was the only concession provided to the industry in return for its agreement to additional reservation of verified high conservation value forests, following Gunns Ltd’s exit from native forests, and extinguishing of their contracts,” he said.

AFPA has called on the groups to confirm whether or not they remain committed to the agreement.

“They should be co-operating with the governments and industry in progressing an equitable implementation of this historic agreement.

“The ENGOs are adding to suspicions that they will never be satisfied and are not serious about delivering a lasting outcome unless they get everything they want. The needs of industry, workers and timber communities are equally important to their demands,” Dr Pollard said.