First step, not last piece, in NSW conservation puzzle - 17 August 2009

The recent moves by the Rees Government to commission an Inquiry into protecting Riverina red gums and setting up new national parks is a positive step for future generations and the environment.

“The River Red Gum is a major Australian bush icon. We should be preserving these icons and important ecosystems for future generations, not logging them for railway sleeper logs, fence posts and firewood,” says Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“I have been campaigning with many other conservation groups for the past six years - over two election cycles - to stop the State Government logging these trees.”
“I would like to congratulate Premier Rees on his recent initiative to look at creating new national parks. He is showing that he can stand up to his Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, who is the strongest advocate for logging red gums in internationally significant wetlands.”

This is not the first time the Government has called in the Natural Resource Commission to question Ian Macdonald’s judgement on natural resource management and the environment. Minister Macdonald was heavily criticised last year after an independent inquiry from the Commission found no scientific evidence supporting the Minister’s $20 million dollar cloud seeding program.

“Contrary to Premier Rees’ statement that protecting Riverina Red Gums is the ‘last piece of the NSW conservation puzzle’, the inquiry is the first step towards sidelining the irresponsible management of natural resources in NSW by Minister Macdonald and rebuilding NSW Labor’s conservation credentials.”

“Premier Rees needs to show the people of NSW that he is genuine. The most important thing will be to actually act on the Inquiry’s findings. If he is genuine, he will implement the new national parks before the end of the year and not make the River Red Gums it into an election platform.”