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Additional comments
1.1
While I agreed
with the Committee's report and recommendations I have additional comments to
make in relation to the forest practices operating in Tasmania.
1.2
I believe that
for the plantation industry to be viable and sustainable it needs to be
committed to social, economic and environmental principals and practiced in an
accountable and transparent manner. This has not been evidenced in the
operation of the forestry industry in Tasmania in its pursuit of contractual
commitments by low yield clearing old growth forests.
1.3
The long term
future of the industry in Tasmania will depend on attempts to avoid the
mistakes made over the last 100 years throughout Australia which has seen the
onslaught of dryland salinity by a blind policy of land clearing and the over
commitment of rivers. To ensure that future generations do not look back and
regret the destruction of Tasmania's heritage and related long term tourism
prospects, I am of the view that high value old growth forest clearing needs to
cease immediately.
Bill Heffernan - Senator for New South Wales
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