FT seeks corrections from Greens

Forestry Tasmania is seeking to correct a number of errors in a media release issued by Greens Leader Peg Putt.


1. Forestry Tasmania will not supply wood from old growth coupes to either the pulp mill or the associated wood fired power station.

2. The harvesting of native forest will remain the same with or without a pulp mill. The claim that native forest woodchip export levels will be higher is not true.

3. Under the Heads of Agreement, Forestry Tasmania will supply only regrowth and plantation wood to the pulp mill. The media was told, and widely reported, that the contract did not preclude exports of up to 500,000 tonnes of old growth woodchips. It is offensive to claim there was any “political trickery” as claimed by Ms Putt.

4. It is untrue to claim the pricing mechanism discouraged the transition to plantations. In fact, the opposite is true. The mechanism provides an incentive to FT to increase the ratio of plantation wood to regrowth over the 20 years.

Managing Director Bob Gordon said he was disappointed that some sections of the community were attempting to misrepresent for political purposes, material that had been released in good faith.

“In future, it will be difficult for FT to gain the approval of its customers to release commercially sensitive material, if it is likely the information will be abused.”

ENDS
23rd October 2007

Media inquiries:
Meaghan Newson
Corporate Relations
Ph: 6233 7052