PRIME MINISTER 106/ 95
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING
MP, THE MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, SPORT AND TERRITORIES,
SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER, AND THE MINISTER FOR RESOURCES,
DAVID BEDDALL MP
DRAFT DEFERRED FOREST AREAS
The Government agreed this evening to-release detailed draft proposals from
officials setting out Deferred Forest Areas in New South Wales, Victoria,
Western Australia and Tasmania. The draft proposals for each State will be
made available to stakeholders later this week. There will be a three week
period for public consultation.
The draft reports identify Deferred Forest Areas through which it is proposed
to protect values needed to meet the Commonwealth's criteria for
comprehensive, adequate and representative reserves pending the
negotiation of Regional Forest Agreements with relevant States. The
documents represent the positions which have been reached by
Commonwealth officials in negotiations with their State counterparts.
Following the public consultation period, the Government will then decide on
the areas to be set aside as Deferred Forest Areas.
This is a vital step in the development of Regional Forest Agreements with
State Governments. It shows the progress that has been made in identifying
forest areas to be deferred for further study to determine those forests which
will be required for inclusion in a National Forest Reserve System. In
contrast with previous decisions on forest use, assessments of possible
Deferred Forest Areas have been conducted on a regional level.
The Commonwealth's proposed criteria for a comprehensive, adequate and
representative forest reserve system were announced in July 1995 and
formed the basis of the identification of draft Deferred Forest Areas.
The scheduled consultations will allow public scrutiny of the Government's
process on this important issue. Any significant issues that arise during the
consultation process will be referred to the Government's independent
scientific panel to ensure the objectivity of the process.
CANBERRA SEPTEMBER 1995
Keating, Paul
Period of Service: 20/12/1991 - 11/03/1996
Find more information on Keating, Paul on the:
Release Date:
25/09/1995
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
9766
Document:
00009766.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Keating, Paul John
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP, THE MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, SPORT AND TERRITORIES, SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER, AND THE MINISTER FOR RESORCES, DAVID BEDDALL MP
9766