Despite being presented today with evidence of illegal logging by his own department in sensitive woodland areas in western NSW, Forestry Minister Ian MacDonald has refused to accept any responsibility, Greens MLC Ian Cohen said today.
“Despite conservation groups having catalogued 35 illegal logging incidents since September 2003, the Minister continued to deny any knowledge of them and refused to accept responsibility for his department’s actions.
Clearfelling“Despite the Carr Government previously stating the importance of conserving the western woodlands of NSW, Mr MacDonald has now snubbed community and environment groups and publicly displayed his intention treat illegal logging as some sort of joke.”
In a Budget Estimates Committee hearing this morning the Minister said he was unaware of any new breaches of logging agreements and dismissed evidence presented to him as being either old or not his responsibility.
“The Minister was informed there was video evidence of an officer from State Forests admitting breaches had occurred in the last week. This is a clear case of being both his department and anything but old. The Minister’s denials are farcical.”
The Carr Government committed to announcing protection measures for the western woodlands, or Brigalow Belt, in November 2002, but still hasn’t made an announcement.
“Less than 10 per cent of the original woodlands west of the Great Dividing Range remain and the majority of it is in the Brigalow Belt.
“We need a better balance. It is possible to protect areas of high conservation value while ensuring a sustainable supply of timber and protecting jobs.
“What is currently occurring is a mismanagement of natural resources. In a very short time there will simply be nothing left for either side to negotiate over.”
Further information: Paul Sheridan, 0410 516 656.
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