Solution to Rees' environment blunder

16 August 2009: Premier Nathan Rees had a good news story on the environment yesterday and he blew it.

For years the NSW government has dragged its feet on protecting river red gums but this week the first steps were taken towards creating new national parks in southwest NSW by setting up an inquiry into Riverina red gums and the southwestern cypress state forests.

In attempting to badge himself up with what is very significant despite the years of no action the Premier showed his arrogance and ignorance. He described the move to protect the Riverina red gums as ''the last piece of the NSW conservation puzzle''.

Whoops. Can you imagine the agony those few words would have given the Premier's chief of staff Graham Wedderburn. Putting in place a plan to save the river red gums was probably high up on Wedderburn's list when he was brought in to sort out the top office.

We could guess that he was hoping to have a repeat of his heady days with former premier Bob Carr when they created lots of national parks and did win much good will on the progressive side of politics.

But Rees is no Carr. He mangled the announcement by asserting that saving the red gums is the “last” conservation move needed in NSW. The Premier made many people working hard for environmental causes very angry.

That was certainly the response from folk on the far south coast who have been campaigning for years to stop woodchipping of native forests.

Harriett Swift from Chipstop wrote: So that’s it for the environment under your government, is it? There will be nothing more for the environment while you remain at the helm? Did you really mean to say that?…[Y]our Government is subsidising the native forest logging industry to the tune of $14.4 million a year. The forests of the southeast are still being woodchipped at record levels, despite the promise by one of your predecessors to end export woodchipping by the year 2000. There is plenty more to be done for the environment.

Mr Wedderburn please note that the Premier's words  ''the last piece of the NSW conservation puzzle'' will dog Labor up to the next election.

But there is a way the Premier can reclaim the environmental high ground. He should announce a plan to end woodchipping of native forests in the southeast. The justification for winding up this industry is well documented. These forests are some of the most significant in the world for capturing greenhouse gases. Local fisheries, oyster farming and tourism would benefit if native forest logging stopped.

This plan needs to set out a restructuring program for the industry that ensures no workers are out of a job.

Mr Wedderburn ending native forest woodchipping in the southeast needs your attention. It would be a quick way to wipe out the Premier's embarrassing gaff.