For many years there has been little perceivable difference between the Liberal and Labor Parties both on a National and State level. However, in Western Australia the Barnett Liberal Government has unashamedly increased the divide. With little exception the Government gives industry what they want often totally disregarding community concerns.
Colin Barnett and his National Party partners are willing to meet with any group, but unless the group supports business interests, they listen with deaf ears. This also includes advice from Government Departments.
Minister for Forestry Terry Redman (National Party) agreed to have a meeting with GWFG recently in Manjimup. Despite our objections we were only granted half an hour, whilst the Chamber of Commerce and Industry received the Minister’s attention for several hours. At the end of our meeting Mr Redman made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t in any way concerned with anything we had to say – no doubt it was a very different story with the Chamber of Commerce.
Recently GWFG attempted to arrange a meeting with the Shadow Environment Minister Sally Talbot, ourselves and the Conservation Commission to discuss dieback prevention in logging coupes. Protocol demands that Opposition Members seek approval for meetings with Government Departments through the relevant Minister. Environment Minister Bill Marmion subsequently refused permission and, even when questioned in Parliament, gave no explanation for this extraordinary decision. What is the Government trying to hide?
Reliable sources from within the Department of Environment and Conservation have told GWFG that the Government ordered all Departments not to talk about Climate Change or Global Warming as it may conflict with business interests.
For several years scientists in the Department of Environment and Conservation have been working on recovery plans for various endangered native fauna such as the ringtail possum, red tailed black cockatoo and the mainland quokka. Many of these plans are now complete including the quokka recovery plan. However, we have also been informed that the Government is refusing to sign off on these plans as implementing them would increase the cost of logging operations which, in turn would not please the logging industry. Hansard shows that the Government has mislead Parliament claiming that these plans are not yet complete.
Fortunately there is light at the end of the tunnel. The State Labor Party has unanimously voted to end native forest logging and move solely into responsibly managed plantations should they win the next election. They also appear ready to tackle the increasingly serious problem of forest diseases that are threatening the entire forest ecosystem. We look forward to seeing what commitments they make before the next election.
