31 October 2007
“Me-too”ism will mean more taxpayers’ cash for woodchippers

Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Keith Hughes fears “me-too”ism will mean even more taxpayer subsidies for the destructive woodchipping industry.

“During this election we have seen the reckless and tragic spectacle of Liberal and Labor parties trying to out bid each other in their willingness to throw public money and legislative protection at the region’s biggest greenhouse polluter,” he says.

“On current scores, the Labor Party is actually worse than the Liberals. It has promised “me-too”, plus an extra $20 million in cash for the industry.”

“Mike Kelly has been to the chipmill on a number of occasions for photo opportunities and Gary Nairn has spent his whole career promoting the industry.”

Mr Hughes says that this election had presented a timely opportunity for the major parties to inject some sense into the debate on forests, using climate change as a circuit breaker, but they have both failed to take this up.

“Even Minister Turnbull acknowledges that forest destruction is the world’s third biggest greenhouse polluter, and yet he is quite happy to allow it to carry on right under his nose on the south coast of NSW.”

“Labor has promised cash for loggers and funds to promote a dubious scheme to  certify native forests which will facilitate entry of Australian woodchips into the huge Chinese market. This will provide a continuing market for Eden woodchips once Japanese markets dry up due to stricter quality requirements.”

 “Taxpayers’ cash is  being used to greenwash intensive logging of native forests for woodchips and ensure this unsavoury trade has a future once the more scrupulous buyers withdraw from the market,” Mr Hughes says.

“It is another example of Liberal and Labor parties’ lavish use of taxpayers funds to subsidise the destructive woodchipping industry”.

Mr Hughes is appealing directly to voters with a YouTube clip recorded at  the Eden chipmill. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdBA2GRmdiU