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Forestry Tasmania has again re-iterated its support for the ongoing peace talks, but says it's unrealistic to expect the forest industry to stop work until a resolution has been achieved.
Forestry Tasmania's General Manager Corporate Relations Ken Jeffreys said FT was playing a constructive role in the discussions, and suggestions to the contrary by Greens senator Christine Milne were wrong.
Senator Milne today claimed that a harvested coupe in the southern forests was on a list compiled by green groups for protection through the peace process.
Mr Jeffreys said Senator Milne had neglected to mention roading to the coupe started at least two years ago, and harvesting began eight months ago and had only just been completed.
"This work began well before the peace talks. It is somewhat surprising that Senator Milne made the comments after the harvesting operation had been completed. Forestry Tasmania has not altered its scheduled harvesting as a result of the discussions.
"In any case, it is unrealistic to halt all work in native forests pending the outcome of peace talks. If harvesting was to stop, supplies to sawmills would cease causing further job losses. This is not the outcome sought by peace talk negotiators.
"Forestry Tasmania is working constructively with groups involved in the peace talk discussions and encourages all parties to avoid accusatory statements that may affect the success of these talks," Mr Jeffreys said.
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27th September, 2010
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