A Freedom of Information request from Ian Cohen’s office has found that Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald refused to allow the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) staff to enter River Red Gum forests in the Deniliquin area for an inspection,” says Ian Cohen, Greens MLC.
“It’s hard to understand why the Minister would block the head government environment agency from entering the River Red Gum area to do a environmental inspection and audit.”
“DECCW staff were allowed by local Forests NSW staff to go into the forests to begin inspections on the assumption that, as the lead Government environmental agency, they would receive the necessary permit. DECCW staff applied for the permit and commenced the inspections yesterday morning. Within hours, local FNSW staff advised DECCW’s people that their application for a permit had been declined and were asked to cease inspections.”
“As the agency that provides numerous environmental licensing for the forestry operations in the River Red Gum it is astounding that a government department is barred from assessing compliance with licensing by the Minister from Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald.”
“Mr Macdonald’s championing of logging activities in the River Red Gum forests has gone so far that the Rees Government had no choice but to commission a more transparent assessment by the Natural Resources Commission. The NRC will inquire into protecting Riverina red gums and setting up new national parks.”
“Former Premier Bob Carr claims that ‘the most reliable estimate is that there are only 136 jobs in red gum logging on public lands in NSW’. Minister Macdonald, however, asserts that the so called ’stop work order’ threatens over 1000 timber jobs.”
“The Minister’s habitual spreading of misinformation and his mismanagement of the River Red Gum forests is another example of his role as a millstone around the neck of the NSW Government.”
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