NSW resource security legislation shelved
By Peter Anderson
SYDNEY — The state government will not proceed with resource security legislation following the decision of a parliamentary committee to withdraw it for reconsideration. It is unlikely the package of five bills will re-emerge.
This is a defeat for the Fahey government and for timber companies, which wanted a free hand to cut public forests. The legislation would have given a green light to logging and woodchipping activities and provided compensation for companies unable to log due to environmental opposition.
A spirited crowd of 500 demonstrated outside Parliament House on November 13, the day the committee was to report to parliament. One hour after the midday rally, news came through that the bills had been withdrawn.
The rally was organised by environmental groups and the NSW Aboriginal Lands Council. Protesters heard from speakers including Australian Conservation Council president Peter Garrett, Democrat MLC Richard Jones and independent state MP Clover Moore. The opposition of the three lower house independents seems to have been decisive in blocking the legislation.
One day earlier, the federal cabinet decided to endorse national resource security legislation under the guise of a National Forest Policy. Wilderness Society director Karenne Jurd called Labor's legislation "environmental vandalism" and said it would "facilitate the expansion of woodchipping throughout Australia's native forests".
"I ask Mr Keating to think about one thing — when was the last time the Labor Party won a federal election without the Wilderness Society's support?", she said.