22 November, 2006

ABC ONLINE: Labor announces logging policy, gaming review panel

Friday, 17 November 2006.

The Victorian Labor Party has promised to end logging in significant old growth forests, including the Goolengook Block in East Gippsland if it wins next week's election. Labor also promised to expand Victoria's National Parks by 33,500 hectares and create a new National Park at the Cabbobonee Forest in the state's south-west.

Labor leader Steve Bracks has guaranteed there will not be job losses because the timber industry will be set up to log smaller regrowth timber. "This is a policy which increases our biodiversity which increases the protection of old growth forest," he said.

Timber Communities Australia's Kersten Gentle has welcomed the plan. "It's fantastic, it's the first time in decades that we've actually gone to the polls on election day with no timber job losses on the table," she said.

But Gavin McFadyen from the Wilderness Society is disappointed. "Over 90 per cent of our old growth forests available for logging will still be available for logging," he said.

In a move designed to deflect criticism of his gaming policy, Mr Bracks has promised an independent panel will review the issuing of Victoria's gaming licences. Mr Bracks says a panel led by a retired judge will probe reviews of the state's gambling licences. "This will be an independent and pristine process," he said.

Labor has been under pressure over its deals with the gaming industry, after Mr Bracks defended having dinner with a Tattersalls lobbyist three years ago, and scrutiny over the delay in issuing the lotteries tender.

Liberal leader Ted Baillieu says today's announcement is an admission there are probity issues surrounding gaming licences. "I think there should be an urgent inquiry and a review of exactly what's going on," he said.

Labor says the new panel will make its recommendations public.

Original article

LETTER: Roll out the barrel

Alex Schlotzer, Sunshine North
The Age, 22/11/06

IT'S a sad fact that the ALP and the Liberals have not much to offer except the usual pork barrelling. More empty promises, more huge excesses of money pledged and not much else.

But let's look at what the ALP supports: "clean coal" (a dangerous oxymoron), logging of old-growth forests and water catchments, extending the life of the Hazelwood power station, dredging Port Phillip Bay, 4WDs tearing up sensitive areas, and shooting ducks. It wouldn't be "balanced"' if we didn't consider the Liberals: they support "clean coal", nuclear power stations and nuclear waste, logging of old-growth forests and water catchments, 4WDs tearing up sensitive areas, shooting ducks, Howard's IR reforms, and destroying the Maribyrnong.

But let's dig a little deeper into that shady part of elections, the preferences. The ALP is supporting Country Alliance with preferences. Country Alliance stands for apparently nothing else except being anti-Greens and wanting to hunt, shoot and 4WD in sensitive parts of state and national parks. And the Liberal Party is supporting Family First with preferences. Family First stands for nothing with no policies and nothing to say except they're for families and reducing petrol prices.

Interesting how when it matters for getting Victoria moving again, the Greens' policies for a renewable energy industry and water-saving and emissions reduction targets are being adopted by the ALP and Liberals.

LETTER: No to Alpine grazing

Charlie Sherwin, director, Victorian National Parks Association
The Age, 22/11/06

The Liberal Party's support for cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park is bizarre when set against the party's calls for water conservation and better national park management.

Alpine grazing was wrecking the headwaters of Victoria's major eastern river catchments and sending our native animals and wildflowers to the brink of extinction. The Victorian National Parks Association condemns the Liberal Party's policy of overturning Labor's wise ban on alpine grazing. Political parties should be protecting our public lands and catchments for all 5 million Victorians, not giving them away cheap to private timber and grazing interests.

And logging in Melbourne's water catchments is a false economy — which so far has both major parties ducking for cover.

21 November, 2006

ABC ONLINE: Forest action group threatens to run against Greens

21/11/06

A new environmental alliance known as the Global Warming Forest Action Group is threatening to run candidates against Western Australian Greens, after accusing them of supporting the logging of native forests.

The group wants all logging in the state's native forests to stop.

Group member Mark Sheehan from the Northcliffe Environment Centre says the Greens' forest policy supports the Labor Government's continuing logging.

Mr Sheehan says if it does not get a commitment from Greens' south-west MLC Paul Llewellyn, the group will campaign against them at the next state election.

"If they don't, we will run candidates against Paul Llewellyn and Giz Watson, stating that they have a policy of logging our forests and with global warming increasing by the week, we believe that people will be very disgusted with the Greens' policy," he said.

Mr Llewellyn says he is willing to hear the group's concerns, saying he acknowledges the important role forests play in climate change.

He says his party does not support the logging of old-growth forests.

"The Greens have never been pro-logging. What we've always said is that we should be getting our forest products from the plantation sector and from the farm forestry sector and that's where we believe that our real forestry of the future lies," he said.

Original article

20 November, 2006

ABC ONLINE: Brown voices support for logging protest

20/11/06

Greens Senator Bob Brown has come out in support of environmentalists protesting against old growth logging in the Weld Valley in southern Tasmania.

The arrest tally for activists is now up to 16 after two protesters locked themselves to a log and a bulldozer.

Forestry workers are trying to build a road for further logging, but conservationists are trying to get world heritage listing for the area.

Jenni Webber from the Huon Valley Environment Centre says the protest will continue despite the arrests.

Senator Bob Brown likens Tasmania's forest practices to those in the Amazon and Indonesia, in terms of the clearing and burning of forests.

He calls Tasmania's forest policies madness and says they are contributing to climate change.

"It's the Minister for Forests who should be in the dock, because what's happening there is a crime against nature," hesaid.

Senator Brown says using police to protect forestry interests is a mismanagement of resources.

Original article

18 November, 2006

THE AGE: Pledge to protect forests

Peter Ker and Liz Minchin
The Age, November 18, 2006

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 protected area would include 5000 hectares of old-growth forest known as the Goolengook block, which has several endangered species.

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.

Funding for the timber industry included $250,000 for the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union. Mr Bracks rejected suggestions the money was an attempt to quell protests.

The CFMEU later released a statement praising the Government for not sacrificing any logging jobs in yesterday's policy.

The move to dismiss the report into Goolengook, which is being carried out by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, prompted an angry response from the National Party.

The council was last year asked to investigate the impact that extra forest protection would have on communities.

The report was due in mid-2007, but the Premier promised yesterday that Labor would "immediately wind up the investigation" if re-elected.

Members of the five-person board of the council — who met yesterday to discuss red gums in the Murray River regions — have been told not to comment.

But one member told The Age it was "business as usual" and the Goolengook investigation was still going ahead.

Yesterday's policy also promised to create a red gum national park, but only if recommended by the council.

National Party spokesman Peter Hall said Labor's promise would make a mockery of the Environmental Assessment Council, and said the Premier was a coward for not making the announcement in East Gippsland. "To make this announcement in Portland is one of the most cowardly decisions I have seen," he said.

The Wilderness Society said the policy was a good start, but would protect only a small portion of the estimated 400,000 hectares of old-growth forest in Victoria.

Greens forests spokesman and Western region candidate Marcus Ward said the policy was "underwhelming". "It's vintage Bracks: big headlines and terrible details," he said.

Predicting an electoral backlash over the policy, independent Gippsland East MP Craig Ingram argued the Government should not have extended the state's national parks because existing parkland was poorly managed due to inadequate funding.

Article source

THE AGE: Walking the line on forests

Liz Minchin
The Age, November 18, 2006

No matter what Labor announced in its forestry policy yesterday, someone was bound to complain.

Protect too much and risk the ire of industry, and accusations of selling out jobs. Protect too little and face the fury of conservationists and accusations of selling out Victoria's natural heritage.

Either way, politicians can expect to cop it from all sides.

So the forestry package was a classic case of compromise to minimise the inevitable barbs.

Fearing major new cuts in land available for logging, this week the timber industry and its supporters stepped up pressure on the Government.

Yesterday their response was more muted, having won concessions that there would be no net job losses, no net loss of timber despite some old-growth forests being protected — although where the replacement timber will come from is yet to be decided — and a promise not to turn any more forests in East Gippsland into national parks.

By pre-empting its own inquiry and immediately protecting the long disputed old-growth forests of East Gippsland's Goolengook valley, as well as creating the new Cobboboonee National Park near Portland, the Government won some restrained applause from environment groups.

But the ongoing logging in parts of Melbourne's water catchments remains a sore point. As Labor knows all too well, if it does get back into office, this policy will do little to end the fighting over Victoria's forests.

Article source

HERALDSUN: Old growth forests protected

Ashley Gardiner
Herald-Sun, November 18, 2006 12:00am

LABOR'S pledge of new national parks and a move to end logging in old growth forests has been welcomed by the timber industry.

Forestry union national secretary Michael O'Connor said the policy was a victory over green extremism. But environmentalists were disappointed, pointing to the failure to stop logging in water catchments.

Premier Steve Bracks yesterday promised to protect the last significant stands of old growth forest available for logging in East Gippsland. This includes the Goolengook Block, the site of much protest against logging in recent years, and will add more than 33,000ha to protected forest areas.

As well, Labor plans to create a Great Alpine National Park by adding 5000ha of state forest, currently able to be logged, to existing national parks in the high country. National parks – Cobboboonee near Portland on the southwest coast and a red gum national park in the north – would be created.

Mr Bracks guaranteed that no timber industry jobs would be lost but said logging would end in East Gippsland's old growth Goolengook forest if he was re-elected. "I think this is a balanced policy," Mr Bracks said. "This policy will not require any job losses."

Mr Bracks made the announcement in the Cobboboonee State Forest, near Portland, which will become a national park under the policy. He was joined by local Labor candidate Roy Reekie who needs only 0.8 per cent swing, or 292 people to change their mind, to snatch the seat of South West Coast from Liberal Denis Napthine.

A new 35,000ha national park will be created at Goolengook, where logging has been suspended but will now be banned.

Labor has promised a $4 million package to help workers and the industry adjust – including $250,000 for the forestry union. Environment Minister John Thwaites defended the hand-out to the union. "It's all about helping the transition in the industry from the old logging practices to the new," Mr Thwaites said.

Three national parks will be linked with a new 5000 ha reserve to create the Great Alpine National Park. Labor has also promised more protection for heritage sites at Point Nepean and 15 new park rangers.

Original article

17 November, 2006

ABC ONLINE: Labor announces logging policy, gaming review panel

Friday, 17 November 2006.

The Victorian Labor Party has promised to end logging in significant old growth forests, including the Goolengook Block in East Gippsland if it wins next week's election. Labor also promised to expand Victoria's National Parks by 33,500 hectares and create a new National Park at the Cobbobonee Forest in the state's south-west.

Labor leader Steve Bracks has guaranteed there will not be job losses because the timber industry will be set up to log smaller regrowth timber. "This is a policy which increases our biodiversity which increases the protection of old growth forest," he said.

Timber Communities Australia's Kersten Gentle has welcomed the plan. "It's fantastic, it's the first time in decades that we've actually gone to the polls on election day with no timber job losses on the table," she said.

But Gavin McFadzean from the Wilderness Society is disappointed. "Over 90 per cent of our old growth forests available for logging will still be available for logging," he said.

In a move designed to deflect criticism of his gaming policy, Mr Bracks has promised an independent panel will review the issuing of Victoria's gaming licences. Mr Bracks says a panel led by a retired judge will probe reviews of the state's gambling licences. "This will be an independent and pristine process," he said.

Labor has been under pressure over its deals with the gaming industry, after Mr Bracks defended having dinner with a Tattersalls lobbyist three years ago, and scrutiny over the delay in issuing the lotteries tender.

Liberal leader Ted Baillieu says today's announcement is an admission there are probity issues surrounding gaming licences. "I think there should be an urgent inquiry and a review of exactly what's going on," he said.

Labor says the new panel will make its recommendations public.

Original article

HeraldSun: Forest film fight

Karen Collier
Herald-Sun, November 17, 2006

Bureaucrats spent more than $110,000 fighting a marathon Freedom of Information battle with a documentary maker filming forest protests. The State Government has been accused of squandering taxpayers' money after amassing the legal bill in a dispute over the release of videotapes and the names of public servants. The Department of Sustainability and Environment racked up the legal costs over more than three years in a secrecy war with filmmaker Peter Vaughan.

The costs included $36,700 to try to stop the release of the names of staff who discussed charges laid and later dropped against Mr Vaughan while covering an anti-logging protest in Goolengook in East Gippsland. The DSE eventually agreed to hand over five names contained in emails when staff consented after retiring or shifting from the department.

A further $74,000 was spent thwarting Mr Vaughan's bid to get access to DSE footage of a raid on protesters in March 2002 that in part aired on TV news bulletins. Activists blockaded Goolengook for five years in a bitter fight over old-growth forests. Mr Vaughan recently gained full access to the department's outside legal fees spent on the FoI actions at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

He accused the DSE of waging a bloody-minded secrecy campaign. "It has been an incredible and absurd waste of money," Mr Vaughan said. He said his documentary, The Last Valley, already used his own and TV footage showing some DSE staff the department fought so fiercely to protect.

His 56-minute documentary tracking East Gippsland's declining timber industry had its Melbourne premiere at the Capitol Theatre last night.

A DSE spokesman defended the expense of the FoI case and accused Mr Vaughan of making false claims to promote his film. The spokesman denied the department tried to sabotage Mr Vaughan's documentary. VCAT had backed officer concerns about being threatened, assaulted, abused and intimidated if their videotape was publicly released, he said.

The department released more than 100 pages of documents to Mr Vaughan but was legally obliged to protect requested privacy and had to defend demands to divulge confidential legal advice and 50 personal names."

Original article

16 November, 2006

ARTICLE: Timber body fears deals

Sarah Wotherspoon and Ellen Whinnett
Heraldsun, November 15, 2006

Victorian timber workers are concerned preference deals between the major parties and the Greens will threaten their livelihood in exchange for votes in the state election. Forest industry groups yesterday called on both Labor and the Liberals to reveal any preference deals done with the Greens in the Lower House.

Victorian Forestry Industries Association CEO Tricia Caswell said any deals between the major parties and the Greens would spell the end for timber towns in East Gippsland. "We are calling all political parties to draw a line in the sand. No more cuts to resource, no more buy-outs of the industry, towns and jobs," she said.

The 2002 Our Forests Our Future report committed 567,800 cubic metres of forest for the timber industry.

Victorian Timber Communities national co-ordinator Kersten Gentle called on Labor to release its forests policy and reveal any preference deals. "We are concerned Labor has not yet released their forests policy and are yet to commit to standing by the sustainable timber industry," she said. "We are just sick and tired of back room deals that put our families and our livelihood at risk."

The major preference deals for the Lower House are currently at a stand-still with Labor, Liberals and the Greens yet to finalise their deals. Labor prefers the Greens in the Upper House. However, a deal seems likely that would see the Liberals preference the Greens ahead of Labor in four inner-city seats where the Greens stand a strong chance of beating the Labor MPs.

In return, the Greens look likely to agree not to preference against the Liberals in nine suburban and regional seats where they have not yet done deals with Labor. The Greens have agreed to send preferences to Labor in 22 marginal seats, in return for preferences in the Upper House.

And Labor is yet to decide whether it will preference the Liberals ahead of the Nationals in seven Lower House seats held by the Nationals. The move could kill off the Nationals but seems unlikely as Labor has a preference for the Nationals ahead of the Liberals in the Upper House."

Original article

09 November, 2006

LETTER: Politicians must save our forests

Ellen Sandell, East Brunswick
Letter, The Age, 9/11/06

Our politicians should heed the advice given in the Stern report: "Action to preserve the remaining areas of natural forest is needed urgently" ( The Age, 8/11). With only 10 per cent of Victoria's native forests remaining, something needs to be done to protect what is left, particularly of our old-growth forests.

Politicians from both major parties seem to be sidestepping the issue, with Ted Baillieu and Steve Bracks both seemingly more worried about loss of jobs in the timber industry than the threat of climate change. But if we don't take measures to halt climate change, more jobs will be lost than the few that remain in the native timber industry.

This is not something that we can afford to put off: emissions from deforestation are responsible for about 18 per cent of global greenhouse emissions — more than that of the global transport sector. So come on, Mr Bracks, move the timber industry to sustainable plantations rather than logging our native forests and destroying our future.

LETTER: Single-issue activism

Mark Poynter, Victorian media spokesman, Institute of Foresters of Australia
Letter, The Age, 9/11/06

THE Wilderness Society's contention that native forest timber production enhances global warming ( The Age, 8/11) highlights the dangers of single-issue activism setting the environmental agenda.

Their claims are based on presumptions of permanent deforestation and unsustainability that are irrelevant to the Australian context where timber production is limited to within less than 10 per cent of forests being logged and regenerated on a sustainable cycle. While unlogged forests are valuable carbon sinks, sustainable timber production within designated zones can add substantially to this. The concept of sustainability dictates that harvested carbon transferred into wood products or lost to the atmosphere is replaced in vigorous new growth in previously harvested areas.

The enhanced sequestration of vigorous post-logging regrowth over and above the slow or static sequestration of older forests allows Victorian native forest timber production to provide an overall net gain in carbon storage that is currently estimated to be seven to eight times greater than the emissions being saved by wind farms. Losing this benefit by closing the native forest industry would be an environmental tragedy that would largely counteract government and community initiatives to embrace cleaner energy.

08 November, 2006

THE AGE: State logging greenhouse warning

Rachel Kleinman, November 8, 2006
The Age

Native forest logging in Victoria releases as much greenhouse pollution as putting 2.3 million new cars on the road each year, an environment group says.

The Wilderness Society yesterday renewed calls for the Bracks Government to restrict logging to plantations after the British Stern Review last week identified deforestation as a major cause of climate change.

Australian National University fellow James Watson, a Wilderness Society lobbyist, said Government figures showed that 8995 hectares of Victorian forest and woodland were logged in the past financial year. That amounted to 9.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of 2.3 million new cars, Dr Watson said.

But Environment Minister John Thwaites' spokesman said there were "vastly differing scientific opinions about the impact of logging".

The Government would release a report next year that evaluated logging in catchments against economic, social and environmental criteria, the spokesman said.

Dr Watson said recent Government initiatives to tackle climate change were welcome but were not enough. "They cannot be seen to be seriously addressing dangerous climate change without also stopping logging in old-growth forests and water catchments," he said.

Clearing trees releases back into the atmosphere carbon that has been stored, often for many centuries. Dr Watson said it took up to 150 years for new trees to absorb the carbon released through logging of old trees.

In February 2002, the Bracks' Government's Our Forests Our Future policy committed to a 31 per cent reduction in logging across the state's native forests. There is no date yet for a new Labor policy on logging.

Under a Bracks Government, logging in the Otways would end by 2008 and parts of Gippsland's Strzelecki Ranges were now protected, Mr Thwaites' spokesman said. "Victoria is on the right path to sustainably managing its forests," he said.

Former chief economist of the World Bank, Sir Nicholas Stern, in a report commissioned by the British Government, said emissions from deforestation were responsible for about 18 per cent of global greenhouse emissions — more than that of the global transport sector.

"Action to preserve the remaining areas of natural forest is needed urgently," Sir Nicholas said.

His report said that 8000 years ago 50 per cent of global land surface was covered by forest, compared with 30 per cent now.

Orignal article

07 November, 2006

LETTER: Tired old parties just don't get it

Alex Schlotzer, Sunshine North
Letter to The Age, 7/11/06

We have seen over the past week an unprecedented number of reports saying that we need more action to prevent environmental disasters. But what do we get from the tired old political parties? We get more rhetoric and empty promises.

I'm tired of the environment being treated with electoral contempt. We've had decades to do something about the water crisis and climate change, but history quite clearly shows us that the ALP, Liberals and Nationals have done nothing but pontificate. The ALP extends the life of Australia's dirtiest coal station (Hazelwood), supports "clean coal" and will not ban logging of our water catchments. The Liberals support nuclear energy, logging in catchments and want to build a dam that will cripple the Maribyrnong River. The Nationals continue to be lost in the wilderness on how to address climate change and the deepening water crisis.

It seems that the lavish promises being made are nothing more than hot air. The Greens are the only ones who take climate change, water and energy seriously, with comprehensive policies for real action.

Source

04 November, 2006

THE AGE: Vic election debate fires up loggers

The Age, November 4, 2006

Premier Steve Bracks' election campaign performance has fired up both the logging industry and a forestry union. Mr Bracks and Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu came head to head on Friday night in what commentators described as a dull and unsurprising debate over issues such as water, road tolls, industrial relations and health.
Neither side was prepared to claim a win, with Mr Bracks rejecting Mr Baillieu's suggestion of a repeat performance.

But Scott Gentle from Timber Communities Australia (TCA) warned the ALP would face a major backlash in regional areas because Mr Bracks had not ruled out further cuts in the industry. "I think on this issue he had a real chance to stand up and make a firm stand - and he didn't," Mr Gentle said. "The premier recognised that he had made the tough decision to cut the industry by 31 per cent to ensure it was sustainable, yet he couldn't promise there wouldn't be more cuts to our already sustainable industry, which is weak." Mr Gentle said Mr Baillieu did "an excellent job" in the debate and made a firm commitment to protect forestry jobs.

The ALP's performance also came under attack from the forestry division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). CFMEU National Secretary for forestry, Michael O'Connor, said his union would defend its members' interests. "Any political party, or employers or greens who attempt to implement policies that will harm our members' job prospects will suffer the consequences," Mr O'Connor said.

State Liberal president Julian Sheezel repeated the call for another debate, saying a second round would give voters a chance to properly scrutinise the policies of both parties. "The Liberal Party challenges Steve Bracks to a debate (to) be held after the release of the government's pre-election budget update when the state's finances are open to proper scrutiny," Mr Sheezel said. He said the second debate should be held in country Victoria.

But Mr Bracks said there would be no second debate.

Monash University's senior politics lecturer Nic Economou declared the debate a "dull, nil-all draw". He said voters were probably more interested in the soccer than the debate. "Such a bad night to have it on TV - the Melbourne Victory (soccer team) are playing," he told ABC radio. "You can imagine that the people who did watch it were turning off as the thing went on, but I think it's important for the leaders to go through this ritual."

Original article

ABC ONLINE: Timber industry to back Baillieu in election

ABC Online
Saturday, November 4, 2006


The logging industry is backing Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu in the election campaign after last night's leadership debate.

Timber Communities Australia says Mr Baillieu gave a clear commitment to the industry but Mr Bracks would not.

The industry group says the Government faces a backlash similar to the one Mark Latham faced in the last federal election when timber communities united against Labor.

The Victorian manager, Scott Gentle, says regional communities will rally against Labor MPs in marginal country seats.

"His failure to commit to the industry is going to see us, we're going to start organising people and unless something is announced in the next week or two that shows that commitment, we'll be going pretty hard against them," he said.

A spokesman for Environment Minister John Thwaites says the Government will release its policies on logging and the environment soon.

Original article

SMH: Vic election debate fires up loggers

November 4, 2006


Premier Steve Bracks' election campaign performance has fired up both the logging industry and a forestry union. Mr Bracks and Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu came head to head on Friday night in what commentators described as a dull and unsurprising debate over issues such as water, road tolls, industrial relations and health.

Neither side was prepared to claim a win, with Mr Bracks rejecting Mr Baillieu's suggestion of a repeat performance.

But Scott Gentle from Timber Communities Australia (TCA) warned the ALP would face a major backlash in regional areas because Mr Bracks had not ruled out further cuts in the industry. "I think on this issue he had a real chance to stand up and make a firm stand - and he didn't," Mr Gentle said. "The premier recognised that he had made the tough decision to cut the industry by 31 per cent to ensure it was sustainable, yet he couldn't promise there wouldn't be more cuts to our already sustainable industry, which is weak."

Mr Gentle said Mr Baillieu did "an excellent job" in the debate and made a firm commitment to protect forestry jobs.

The ALP's performance also came under attack from the forestry division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). CFMEU National Secretary for forestry, Michael O'Connor, said his union would defend its members' interests. "Any political party, or employers or greens who attempt to implement policies that will harm our members' job prospects will suffer the consequences," Mr O'Connor said.

State Liberal president Julian Sheezel repeated the call for another debate, saying a second round would give voters a chance to properly scrutinise the policies of both parties. "The Liberal Party challenges Steve Bracks to a debate (to) be held after the release of the government's pre-election budget update when the state's finances are open to proper scrutiny," Mr Sheezel said. He said the second debate should be held in country Victoria.

But Mr Bracks said there would be no second debate.

Monash University's senior politics lecturer Nic Economou declared the debate a "dull, nil-all draw". He said voters were probably more interested in the soccer than the debate. "Such a bad night to have it on TV - the Melbourne Victory (soccer team) are playing," he told ABC radio.

"You can imagine that the people who did watch it were turning off as the thing went on, but I think it's important for the leaders to go through this ritual."

Original article

03 November, 2006

ARTICLE: Greenies 'hijackers' Charged

Nick Higginbottom with AAP
Herald-Sun, November 03, 2006

Two protesters have been charged with public nuisance after chaining themselves to a logging truck that was "hijacked" by a group of environmentalists today. Lauren Caulfield, 25, from Brunswick and a 29-year-old Goongerha man were arrested this morning and will be summonsed to appear at the County Court at a later date. They were part of a demonstration that blocked part of normally busy Swan St in Richmond to stop a logging truck carrying timber to a Geelong woodchip mill, about 4am. They were cut free by police almost five hours later.

Truck driver Steven Reed from Warburton, east of Melbourne, said he stopped his truck when he saw a car that appeared broken down. "I sort of had to slow down to a stop, then I noticed there were people on the footpath. They came running out and everybody went around the truck," he told ABC radio. Mr Reed said he was annoyed at the protest and he considered running the group of protesters over. "I would have loved to have but you can't do it. I don't feel like getting charged with manslaughter at four o'clock in the morning for something I am not really in control of," he said.

A joint media release from Friends of the Earth and the Australian Student Environment Network said the group of about 20 protesters had "hijacked" the truck in protest at the logging of old growth forests in Victoria. Speaking to Southern Cross Broadcasting from the back of a police divisional van after her arrest, Ms Caulfield said Victorian Premier Steve Bracks had failed to act to protect the state's forests. "Obviously, this is a very, very serious issue and it is a real shame that Victorians have to get out there on the streets and get into this kind of situation in order to send such a strong message to government," Ms Caulfield said.

Greens leader Senator Bob Brown said the alleged protesters represented majority public opinion. "Every day of the week, Victoria's high conservation value forests are being hijacked by the Bracks government," he said. However Premier Steve Bracks was critical of the demonstration. "I don't believe it is an appropriate way to present your views," said Mr Bracks.

Original article