Otway Ranges Environment Network

 

 

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2003
Senior Liberals contradict each other and themselves on Otway policy.


Deputy opposition leader supports new Otway Parks

The deputy opposition leader for the Victorian Liberals, Andrea Coote told parliament she openly welcomed the expansion of the Otways National Park.

Victorian Parliament Hansard, 8 May 2003, Page 1550

Hon. ANDREA COOTE (Monash)

Mrs Carbines spoke about the Otway ranges. I too am a great advocate for the Otway ranges. They are a particularly beautiful part of this state. I was interested to hear her refer to them as the lungs of Geelong, and it is important that all of us understand the necessity for lungs.

I also welcome the new park that will extend from Anglesea through to Cape Otway. It will be of great benefit to Victoria, but I hope the government sufficiently funds the park so that it is properly managed. It is easy to make parks; the greatest concern is to manage them properly. We have to make certain there are no noxious weeds and that the control of ragwort is watched very carefully, because it is a particularly difficult weed to control in the wet climate experienced in that area. The fox problem, which I know is endemic through the Otways, also needs to be looked at, as does the issue of fuel reduction. Fuel reduction has to be carefully managed. We need to look at better science to deal with this issue to see if it can be addressed better than it has been.

Liberal opposition leader for logging and against Otway National Park.

A week after the deputy opposition leader supported the Otways National Park, Liberal opposition leader Robert Doyle was challenged by Geelong Advertiser journalists about Otway logging. Mr Doyle rejected the idea that clearfell logging should be stopped in the Otways and stated the Liberals Otway policy had not changed to be in favor of a new Otway National Park .

Mr Doyle misrepresents scientific research, to argue clearfell logging in the Otways is sustainable.

'No backflip' on logging.
Geelong Advertiser
13 May 2003

THE Liberal Party last night rejected claims it had backflipped on its policy on logging in the Otways National Park.

Conservationists seized on comments made in State Parliament last week be Opposition MP Andrea Coote, claiming they marked a change in the party's policy since the election when the Liberals opposed an end to clearfell logging in the forests.

Describing herself as an advocate for the Otways, Ms Coote welcomes the extension of the park and the long-term cessation of logging, which were both part of the Labor platform before the November 30 poll.

But she took issue with the way the decision was made by the Bracks Government, and implored the Government to put in place some "decent programs" for those affected.

Otway Ranges Environment Network spokesman Simon Birrell said the comments were in stark contrast to the Liberals previous position.

"We are very pleased that Coote has recognised community opinion and has come out in support of an end to native forest logging and a new expanded Otways National Park," he said.

"However, where does the rest of the Liberal Party stand on this issue?" he questioned.

Speaking ahead of his visit to Geelong today, Opposition Leader Robert Doyle denied the comments marked a shift on the issue.

The party's policy remained in favour of continued logging and was based on research, which said logging could be conducted in a sustainable manner, he said.

"As soon as it is not sustainable then it would be stopped," he said.

Liberal Member for Polwarth supports logging

Terry Mulder, the State Liberal Member for Polwarth (the seat where the Otway loggers live) is adamant that the Liberal Party supports logging in the Otways and would reverse the no logging decision if elected in 2006. However he also acknowledges it will hard to turn things around.

MP pledge to timber industry
Colac Herald
18 August 2003

Member for Polwarth Terry Mulder has pledged the Liberal Party's support for the Otways timber industry at the next state election.

Mr Mulder said the State Governments decision to shut the Otways and create an expanded national park could be reversed.

But he conceded reviving a diminished Otways timber industry would prove difficult.
Mr Mulder said the timber industry would have lost much infrastructure and resources it needed to continue.

And Mr Mulder said the State Government would probably release its national park legislation before the next election.

"The Liberal Party hasn't changed its position in relation to supporting sustainable timber industries," he said.

"The Bracks Labor Government indicated before the last election it was going to shut down Colless licence and that while Murnane's was valid until 2008 they would attempt to take him out of business prior to that."

The Bracks Government says now it will let Murnane continue until 2008 but the State Government may hold off on Murnane until before the next election and use his licence as a bargaining tool.

Mr Mulder said the Federal Government was in favor of honouring the former Regional Forest Agreements which sawmillers, state and federal governments signed in 2000 until 2020.

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