6
FOR MEDIA 15 DECEMBER 1986
GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL ESTATE VALUES IN TASMANIAN
FORESTS The Prime minister, the minister for Primary Industry, Mr
John Kerin, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and
Environment, Mr Barry Cohen, announced today that the
Government will oppose forestry operations in National
Estate areas of Tasmania until it is satisfied that National
Estate values are protected or there are not feasible
alternatives. This followed Cabinet consideration of Tasmanian forestry
operations today.
Cabinet agreed that Mr Kerin should, in accordance with the
1985 memorandum of Understanding, actively pursue
negotiations with the Tasmanian Minister for Forests, Mr
Groom, with a view to reaching agreement on feasible
alternatives to forestry operations continuing otherwise
than in areas currently being logged in the Lemonthyme,
Southern Forests, Douglas River and Jackey's Marsh/ Quamby
Bluff/ Western Tiers National Estate areas.
In the event that agreement is unable to be reached, the
Commonwealth will again pursuant to the Memorandum of
Understanding seek agreement with the Tasmanian Government
to establish a formal review to determine whether there are
such prudent and feasible alternatives: see the attached
draft Terms of Reference.
If the Tasmanian Government should not agree to a review
along the lines proposed, then the Commonwealth will
establish it pursuant to its own enquiry powers.
The objective would be to complete any review before the
next logging season commences towards the end of 1987.
The object of the proposed consultations and, if necessary,
formal review process, is to settle once and for all the
question as to whether feasible alternatives do exist, as
has been claimed by the conservation movement, to logging in
the contentious National Estate areas.
The Ministers said that they were conscious in reaching this
decision of the importance of the forestry industry to the
State of-Tasmania and of its important economic, social and
employment implications. They believed that a full
examination now of the key and contentious National Estate
areas will ensure that future operations can proceed without
contention and confrontation. It will lay a basis for the
continuing strengthening of forestry production in Tasmania
in a way that protects National Estate values.
During the course of the consultations and any subsequent
review the Commonwealth will oppose forestry operations
continuing in the area of the Lemonthyme in which the
Commonwealth's Advisory Committee on Tasmanian Forestry
Operations recommends no forestry operations take place, the
Southern Forests ( except for areas currently being logged)
and the Douglas River region.
If forestry operations should commence in the Lemonthyme or
Southern Forests areas during the course of the proposed
consultations and any review, the Commonwealth will seek
their protection under the ' universal heritage' provisions
of the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act.
The Government is convinced that for the period of the
review at least there are ample feasible alternative sources
of supply available to replace those in the three areas.
Accordingly, not a single job need be lost as a result of
the Government's decisions.
The Ministers said that as far as Jackey's Marsh is
concerned, logging would continue for the remainder of this
season in the present coupe, as surveys of plant species had
been carried out and steps had now been taken to protect
these plant species in the immediate logging area. However,
the Ministers expressed their concern regarding any future
logging in Jackey's Marsh and will include this area in the
proposed consultations and, if necessary, review.
The Government's decision has been conveyed to the Tasmanian
Government, and the Commonwealth looks forward to the
Tasmanian Government's co-operation in seeing that National
Estate values are protected and jobs are maintained. This
is in the interests of all Australians, the Ministers said.