AUSTRALIA: WA Nationals call for report into conservation value of forest
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
November 6, 2001
The leader of the National Party in WA is calling on the State Government to release a report into the conservation value of 5,500 hectares of old growth forest.
The Government has placed the area of forest within permanent conservation boundaries, but Max Trenordan believes that not all of the land is of high value.
Mr Trenordan says a report commissioned by the Government in May will prove his claims correct.
He believes the decision to protect the area was made as part of a deal to secure Greens preferences for the Labor Party at this weekend's federal poll.
The claim has been strongly rejected by the Environment Minister, Judy Edwards, who says the decision affecting the forest is unrelated to any preference deals.
A spokesman for Doctor Edwards says the report will need to go before Cabinet, but there are plans to release it.