Environmental groups outside the forestry peace deal are attacking the credibility of the Wilderness Society. Fringe groups are angry about the society’s comments during an Upper House inquiry into the peace deal legislation. Source: ABC News
The society’s Vica Bayley revealed he is to travel overseas, asking customers of a timber veneer company to be patient while an end to the forest wars is being finalised.
He plans to meet customers of Ta Ann in Japan. That has prompted Jenny Weber from the Huon Valley Environment centre to question whether the society cares about protecting the forests or supporting Ta Ann.
Weber said scores of people have left the society because they are disappointed the group is lobbying for the industry. But Bayley said the deal is the best way forward for conservation.
Signatories to Tasmania’s forest peace deal remain split over proposed amendments.
Almost 160 pages of amendments flagged 295 forest areas for protection on the eve of an Upper House inquiry into the issue.
The Forest Industries Association’s Terry Edwards told Upper House MPs to reject the amendments because they would not allow enough time to test whether any agreement could last. But Bayley told the inquiry there is no issue with attaching the defined protection areas to the legislation.
“Rolling the protection order into the legislation, in my view, tries to address the challenge of the two-three month delay or hiatus period while this committee undertakes its business,” he said.
“In terms of a durability report for example I don’t see a massive issue, I accept that Terry does.”
