Actu Joins Logging Debate
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday June 21, 1988
CANBERRA: The Federal Government's chances of reaching an accord between foresters and environmentalists has been set back by the ACTU, which is pushing the Government to implement the majority recommendations of the Helsham Report into the Lemonthyme and Southern forests.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on June 15, the president of the ACTU, Mr Crean, says an accord can only be achieved on the basis that no further hardwood resources are precluded from logging.
Mr Crean specifically warns that about $1.5 billion in capital investment in the timber industry will be jeopardised if the Government adopts the minority recommendations of the Helsham report.
The Helsham Inquiry, appointed by the Federal Government to resolve the conflicting land-use claims for the Lemonthyme and Southern forests in Tasmania, was unable to reach a unanimous recommendation.
One of the commissioners recommended World Heritage nomination for the entire 280,000-hectare area. The majority favoured listing only five areas, involving about 8 per cent of the area.
Federal Cabinet last week deferred consideration of the issue after failing to reach agreement. The Minister for the Environment, Senator Richardson, is proposing that more than half of the area be protected from logging. The Minister for Resources, Senator Cook, is advocating a fairly close support for the majority recommendations of the inquiry.
Mr Crean's letter says the Government should encourage and support strategic initiatives for the production of high value-added products such as furniture and craftwood.
© 1988 Sydney Morning Herald