Forest Figures

Well okay so what does that mean Mr Howard?

Prime Minister John Howard has pledged to protect one million hectares of Tasmanian forest, 150,000 hectares more than is protected under the Regional Forests Agreement, and $50 million over four years for the industry.

Is it better or worse than Latham’s $800M. Certainly there is not as much money flowing about. Mind you, there is no get-out-jail-free card enquiry with this package…

The Tasmanian forestry package was going to be my decider policy. Lets face it, left to itself Tasmania is not going to save them.

But I’m left with a nothing to the left of me and nothing to the right decision. And I have to say even though I think Labor have copped out by putting in the enquiry they are ever so much slightly in front of the Liberals. Very slightly.

Of course they could just pay each of the 400 workers $100 grand each, build a couple of factories and send half a million mainland Australians a free ticket to Tassie to build up tourism numbers and achieve what they are asking – and close down the forests to logging on October 10.

Don’t tell me I have to vote Green!