Australian Labor Party promises protection of 81,500 acres of old-growth forest if elected next week

[FernBell]

In an election which will be little-noticed by most of the world but should be of major interest to environmentalists everywhere, the Australian state of Victoria will hold state-level elections next week. Significantly, the Australian Labor Party, which currently has governing control of the state, has come out and made the dramatic promise that if they are re-elected to power next week they will immediately move to protect 33,000 hectares (roughly equal to 81,500 acres) of old-growth forest within the state of Victoria.



LABOR would prematurely dismiss an investigation it launched and immediately protect a parcel of Victoria's old-growth forest if re-elected next week.

In a move labelled cowardly by timber industry supporters, Premier Steve Bracks travelled to the far west of Victoria yesterday to announce plans to protect more than 33,000 hectares of old-growth forest, mostly in Eastern Gippsland.

.......

The policy, which Mr Bracks said balanced environmental and logging needs, also included plans to create a national park near Portland, create a forest link between the Errinundra and Snowy River national parks, and deliver about $4.5 million in support to the timber industry.

With many experts tipping the strongest ever result for the Greens at next week's election, Mr Bracks was stressing Labor's environmental credentials. "If you want to vote for the environment, vote for Labor," he said.


http://www.theage.com.au/news/vicelection06news/pledge-to-protect-forests/2006/11/17/1163266781753.html