Tasmanian Aborigines have thrown their support behind industry groups who have pulled out of the forestry peace talks. Although they are not official signatories the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said it would follow the associations’ lead as they lacked support from conservation groups. Source: The Mercury
The Forest Industry Association of Tasmania and Australian Forest Products Association said at the weekend they would boycott the talks unless the State Government guaranteed state forests would still be managed by Forestry Tasmania.
As part of a shake-up of Forestry Tasmania to stop it haemorrhaging money consultants recommended that the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment should manage forests.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said yesterday it would follow the associations’ lead and abandon the peace talks.
Although not an official signatory at the talks, the Centre has been lobbying for Aboriginal ownership of land proposed for conservation under any deal flowing from the process.
“In our talks with the roundtable parties it was clear we had broad support for our proposal from industry but little support from the conservation groups,” Aboriginal Centre spokesman Michael Mansell said.
The Forest Industry Association of Tasmania will meet Forests Minister Bryan Green on Thursday.
