Bob Carr Admits Failure on Forests – Bjelke Petersen Tactics Used to Stop Conservation Protests

Ian Cohen MLC
The Greens
Legislative Council, Parliament House
Macquarie Street, SYDNEY 2OOO
Ph: 02 9230 2603 Fax: 02 9230 2267
Mobile: 0409 989 466
Email: ian.cohen@parliament.nsw.gov.au

MEDIA RELEASE 12 DECEMBER 2001BOB CARR ADMITS FAILURE ON FORESTS
BJELKE PETERSEN TACTICS USED TO STOP CONSERVATION PROTESTSBob Carr’s has secretly introduced new regulations to penalise forest conservation protesters with $1000 ‘on the spot’ fines for being within 100 metres of logging operations. He has also closed three major forest areas in southern NSW, Badja, Monga and Tallaganda State Forests, to all public and media access.

“This is an admission by Bob Carr of his failure to resolve forest conflict in NSW,” said Ian Cohen, Greens MLC.

“He has repeatedly assured the public that he has ‘saved’ the forests yet now he is using Bjelke Petersen type measures to stifle legitimate conservation protest. We are right back where we were in 1995 when Bob Carr won election on his promise to ‘save the forests’. ”

“The regulations were introduced last Friday without any forewarning. The same day State Forests issued $1000 fines to protesters trying to stop old growth logging in the Badja Wilderness area in southern NSW.”

“Bob Carr will not admit that his Government is still logging old growth and wilderness forests but it is a fact.”

“Bob Carr will not admit that he reneged on the so called ‘balanced’ Southern Forest decision last year but it is a fact. He and the Federal Government later gave the logging industry an additional $9 million subsidy for plantation establishment without balancing increases in conservation reserves.”

“Bob Carr will not admit that massive increases in logging and woodchipping are now proposed by his Government for the Southern Forests, to feed charcoal plants and power stations, but it is a fact.”

“This is why forest protesters are risking their lives and massive fines to continue their unselfish and farsighted struggle to save the forests.”

“And Bob Carr proposes to fine them $1000 each time. This is ten times the fine imposed for negligence causing devastating bush fires in State Forests, hunting or trapping protected native animals in State Forests, discharging a gun in State Forests (a logging contractor recently shot to terrorise protesters with no action taken by State Forests) or even stealing or destroying valuable timber.”