Labor's native forest policy enough to secure Greens' preferences
© 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
November 3, 2001
The Greens Senator Bob Brown says Labor's commitment to a moratorium on the burning of native forests to generate power is enough to secure its preferences.
Senator Brown hopes to announce a preference deal with Labor tomorrow.
The Greens say they are pleased with some of Labor's environment policy which also pledges to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine, ban new nuclear waste dumps and wind back land clearing in Australia.
Senator Brown has still only given Labor a C for Could do better, compared to the Coalition's F for Failed on environmental issues, saying he would have liked Labor to deal with the destruction of old growth forests.
But Senator Brown says Labor's promise of a moratorium on burning of native forests to generate power will win it support from the Greens.
"It will help to get preferences for Labor over the Liberal Party which of course is gung-ho about forest furnaces," he said.
The Labor Party has won Green preferences in nine of Queensland's marginal seats.
Greens Queensland Senate candidate Sarah Moles says the ALP has made some important concessions in key policy areas such as land clearing controls in the state.
But Green preferences have not been allocated in four other marginal seats, including Dickson which is currently held by embattled Labor frontbencher Cheryl Kernot.
The Federal Opposition leader, Kim Beazley, says Labor will try to stop a new nuclear reactor from being built in Sydney.
Mr Beazley has launched the Opposition's environment policy in Perth.
Mr Beazley says Labor believes it can stop the reactor from being built at Lucas Heights.
"There is a contract in place. It appears that things are being done so we'll be examing that contract," he said.
"We won't be producing a situation of sovereign risk, but if we can get out of it we will be getting out of it and we'll be looking to get out of that contract," he said.