Any durability clause agreed to as part of the Tasmanian forest negotiations must be committed to by all anti-forestry groups, not just those inside the talks, Coalition Forestry Spokesman Richard Colbeck said.
The durability clause was flagged by 10 signatories as part of peace talks to ensure that any agreement is lasting regarding forests in Tasmania however; the 10 signatories are not the only organisations involved or potentially involved.
“A durability clause is worthless if only some elements of the anti-forestry movement are prepared to respect it,” Senator Colbeck said.
“One of the key reasons the Coalition opposes the current Intergovernmental Agreement is because it locks up forest resources unnecessarily and at the same time gives no guarantee that protestors won’t then come back to the table and demand more.
“The problem all the way through this current negotiation, and those of years gone past, is that environment non-government organisations (ENGOs) seem incapable of genuine negotiation and compromise.
“Vica Bayley says today that the Wilderness Society recognises durability as an important part of the final agreement but the environment groups currently inside the talks will struggle to convince industry that they are genuine this time.
“What will the ENGOs bring to the table to show that they are genuine? How do they plan on getting other anti-forestry groups to agree to the clause?
“And if the environmental stakeholders are genuine and a durability clause is agreed, will we see an end to the sabotage campaigns by groups like Markets for Change and Last Stand?
“In fact, there is no reason for Markets for Change and others to exist so they should be disbanded. That would certainly show that the ENGOs are genuine,” Senator Colbeck said.
Under a $276 million forests intergovernmental agreement legislation to protect new reserves must be introduced into Tasmania’s State Parliament by the end of June this year.
