State and commonwealth ministers were lured in to launch a new “Australian Forestry Standard” (AFS) rubber stamp last October. The stamp certifies plundered native forest products. The tick of approval tries to reassure buyers that their timber is environmentally ticketty – boo. No logging operation anywhere will have to change its plunderous ways to get …
Investigations by Lawyers For Forests (LFF), have shown that the Code of Forest Practices is vague, unenforceable and needs reform. Recently the Bracks government put the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in charge of overseeing auditing of the Code, instead of government foresters. This is still a worry. For example, the EPA needs funding and powers …
Before the election, Bracks promised a moratorium on logging the Goolengook forest while the Victorian Environment Assessment Council (VEAC) carried out an investigation. This is better than what we had, but the terms of reference proposed are very limited. They will focus only on swapping already reserved high value forests for Goolengook. A leaked Government …
At the log truck blockade in Melbourne earlier this year, our independent MP, Craig Ingram, made mention of the vast area of good Alpine Ash locked up in the Snowy National Park and how it could have kept the logging industry afloat a while longer. More recently he gained front page attention in the local …
The proposal to connect the electricity grids of Tasmania and Victoria (via Basslink) has come under fire in recent weeks due to fears that Victorians will be buying energy generated by the cutting down, pulverising and incineration of Tasmanian forests. These fears have met with strong denials from the proponent of Basslink (BPL). They argue …
In late August, Minister in charge of logging, Sherryl Garbutt, announced the intention to offer Victorias 58 sawmill owners money in return for their promised allocation of logs (didnt we hear this same thing six months ago?). However, the offer ignores the woodchip licences. The government is still operating under the illusion that chips are …
New figures from ABARE released in mid August, show a huge glut of existing plantation wood that was previously underestimated. This is due to vast areas of plantations having been established in the 60s and 70s. By 2006, 75% of timber will be taken from plantations rather than the 62% which was previously forecast. The …
Banks help destroy old growth In another first for corporate Australia, The Wilderness Society along with over 500 shareholders in four big banks (ANZ, Westpac, CBA and National Australia Bank) have called for a halt to all investment in old growth logging. This is the first time that all four banks have been formally requested …
In comparison with the story on page 4, the first two conservationists who were charged at Goolengook earlier this year received fines of $4750 and $4555. The first also scored a three month suspended sentence for 18 months (has to behave himself for 18 months or hell go in). He faced three charges including obstructing …
Up until March 14th, the RFAs were merely an agreement, not legally binding documents. Labor and Liberals worked like best mates to railroad this legislation through in an early morning Canberra sitting. Its passage was met by a huge cheer from both parties. It successfully allows the Feds to wash their hands of any responsibility …
