ABC News, March 02, 2012
Tasmania's Aboriginal Affairs Minister Cassy O'Connor has apologised to Aborigines for comments claiming Forestry Tasmania was exploiting a vulnerable community.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre demanded the public apology saying the comments were patronising and condescending.
The centre wants to control more than 500,000 hectares of native forest in a partnership with Forestry Tasmania.
It has been in talks with the state-owned company about transferring land protected from logging under the forest peace deal to the Indigenous community.
Ms O'Connor had accused Forestry Tasmania of exploiting the vulnerable Aboriginal community.
That angered the centre's legal director Michael Mansell.
"[It's out of line] to make such patronising and paternalistic and condescending comments about Aboriginal people and then claim to be the Minister representing their interests."
Mr Mansell says the proposal would create 60 jobs for Aborigines and the Minister should be representing their interests.
He says he was pleased to receive a call from Ms O'Connor but that was not enough.
"I did point out to her that I was very happy to accept that, and I appreciated her call, but her comments were made public."
"Aborigines around Tasmania heard those comments, were hurt by those comments and she should make a public apology."
The Minister has since apologised unreservedly to any member of the Aboriginal community who took offence.
She says she was reflecting on Forestry Tasmania's motives rather than members of the Aboriginal community.
Support for plan
Tasmania's forest industry has backed the plan.
The Forestry Industries Association has abandoned the peace talks, but says the idea has merit and needs to be considered.
Spokesman Terry Edwards has rejected claims Forestry Tasmania is trying to undermine the peace process.
"Forestry would not get any additional access over and above as if these were national parks.
"The people that will get access are the people of Tasmania, the recreational users, the people camping and fishing and hunting."
One of the parties involved in a proposal also denies it would threaten the state's forest peace deal.
The Managing Director of Britton Timbers at Smithton, Glenn Britton, rejects claims it will derail the deal.
"This does not jeopardise the IGA (Inter-Governmental Agreement) in any shape or form. The only jeopardy the IGA is in is the radical Green movement."
The Wilderness Society's Vica Bayley says Forestry Tasmania is in no position to transfer control of the land.
"We're highly suspicious of the role of Forestry Tasmania here."
"There is no role for Forestry Tasmania in negotiating Aboriginal land hand back issues and we would recommend the Government get involved and negotiate that directly."
Forestry Tasmania has rejected claims it is working to undermine the peace deal.
Meanwhile, the Premier, Lara Giddings, has ruled out signing a memorandum of understanding between the two groups.
Forestry Tasmania's Bob Gordon says a formal agreement will not proceed without the Premier's approval but talks with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre may continue.
"When the Premier rang the Chairman she asked us not to sign."
"We weren't intending to sign it immediately anyway. We were always intending to have a further discussion with government about it and if Michael Mansell wants to have further discussions with government and he wants us to be involved then we'd be part of that."
Kelty plea
Tasmanian Premier is appealing to the forest peace deal negotiator, Bill Kelty, to return to Tasmania to help finalise the deal.
The former union boss helped the environmental and industry signatories reach the initial agreement to end logging in most public native forests.
The signatories now have to agree on the boundaries of protected forest, based on the findings of an independent panel which has assessed 572,000.
The Premier, Lara Giddings, is hoping Mr Kelty will return to the state for the most challenging stage of the talks; deciding which forests to protect from logging.
She says Mr Kelty is considering the invitation.
"[He's] one of Australia's best negotiators.
"I've had some preliminary discussions with Bill, I'm just not sure whether or not he's able to do it at this point but I certsainly think that is what we need and that is what the Australian Government wants, it's what the Tasmanian Government wants."
Showing posts with label aboriginies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aboriginies. Show all posts
02 March, 2012
01 March, 2012
McKim calls for Forestry Tas sackings over secret deal
ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), March 01, 2012
The Tasmanian Greens leader wants the Forestry Tasmania board sacked after revelations the state-owned company is negotiating to hand over land marked for protection to Tasmanian Aborigines.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre wants areas protected under the federally-funded deal to end logging in native forests handed to Aborigines.
The centre's legal director, Michael Mansell, says state-owned Forestry Tasmania has agreed verbally to help manage protected forests, if the Government gives the land to the Aboriginal community.
The future of 572,000 hectares of Tasmania forest is currently being considered for protection from logging.
Mr Mansell says Aborigines are waiting to see how much is deemed as having high-conservation value.
"Once that's agreed, we believe the land should vest in Aboriginal people, the management of the conservation areas vests with us."
"The money for the management that has been set aside already by the Commonwealth, $7 million, should go to us and, as part of the management of that large conservation area, we would have to pay the experts.
He has drawn up a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Forestry Tasmania to help manage the forests.
He says it is yet to be signed, but the state-owned company and forest groups agree on the principles of the deal.
Mr Mansell says the MOU does not allow for future logging inside the protected forests and he expects environmental groups will also sign on.
He says it is now up to the Premier, Lara Giddings, to act on the land handover which would also need approval from the Tasmanian Parliament.
Ms Giddings says she is aware that the Aboriginal community approached Forestry Tasmania to discuss options to manage new areas of reserves.
She says the State Government is not currently considering such a proposal.
PHOTO: Michael Mansell expects environmental groups will sign onto the land deal.
Greens leader Nick McKim has told ABC Local Radio that Forestry Tasmania was actively undermining the peace process.
"That it is actively seeking to undermine the IGA and ultimately what needs to happen now is that Lara Giddings and Bryan Green need to step up to the mark, sack the Forestry Tasmania board, sack Bob Gordon and get that organisation back working in consonance with government policy not opposed to it."
Minister gobsmacked
Tasmania's Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Cassy O'Connor, is concerned Forestry Tasmania is trying to exploit the Aboriginal community.
Ms O'Connor has warned the community it is a mistake to get involved with Forestry Tasmania.
"This move, particularly on Forestry Tasmania's part, is a mistake."
"Forestry Tasmania is exploiting a vulnerable community, in the process they are potentially undermining the IGA, and as the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs I'm frankly gobsmacked that FT could go to this extent with the community and not consult with the Minister," she said.
The Opposition's Peter Gutwein says he is not surprised by the revelations.
"This clearly demonstrates the dysfunctional nature of this Government, absolutely."
"I don't think there could be a clearer description of this Government as dysfunctional at the moment."
The Australian Greens leader, Bob Brown, says it is a cruel move by Forestry Tasmania.
He says the Aboriginal community made him aware of the issue two weeks ago and he has urged them to be wary of the state-owned company.
"This is quite a treacherous activity that Forestry Tasmania has been involved in."
It is a rogue organisation that sees itself outside the reach of proper probity by the State Government and State Parliament and it's pretty cruel, using the Indigenous community in Tasmania."
The Tasmanian Greens leader wants the Forestry Tasmania board sacked after revelations the state-owned company is negotiating to hand over land marked for protection to Tasmanian Aborigines.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre wants areas protected under the federally-funded deal to end logging in native forests handed to Aborigines.
The centre's legal director, Michael Mansell, says state-owned Forestry Tasmania has agreed verbally to help manage protected forests, if the Government gives the land to the Aboriginal community.
The future of 572,000 hectares of Tasmania forest is currently being considered for protection from logging.
Mr Mansell says Aborigines are waiting to see how much is deemed as having high-conservation value.
"Once that's agreed, we believe the land should vest in Aboriginal people, the management of the conservation areas vests with us."
"The money for the management that has been set aside already by the Commonwealth, $7 million, should go to us and, as part of the management of that large conservation area, we would have to pay the experts.
He has drawn up a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Forestry Tasmania to help manage the forests.
He says it is yet to be signed, but the state-owned company and forest groups agree on the principles of the deal.
Mr Mansell says the MOU does not allow for future logging inside the protected forests and he expects environmental groups will also sign on.
He says it is now up to the Premier, Lara Giddings, to act on the land handover which would also need approval from the Tasmanian Parliament.
Ms Giddings says she is aware that the Aboriginal community approached Forestry Tasmania to discuss options to manage new areas of reserves.
She says the State Government is not currently considering such a proposal.
PHOTO: Michael Mansell expects environmental groups will sign onto the land deal.
Greens leader Nick McKim has told ABC Local Radio that Forestry Tasmania was actively undermining the peace process.
"That it is actively seeking to undermine the IGA and ultimately what needs to happen now is that Lara Giddings and Bryan Green need to step up to the mark, sack the Forestry Tasmania board, sack Bob Gordon and get that organisation back working in consonance with government policy not opposed to it."
Minister gobsmacked
Tasmania's Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Cassy O'Connor, is concerned Forestry Tasmania is trying to exploit the Aboriginal community.
Ms O'Connor has warned the community it is a mistake to get involved with Forestry Tasmania.
"This move, particularly on Forestry Tasmania's part, is a mistake."
"Forestry Tasmania is exploiting a vulnerable community, in the process they are potentially undermining the IGA, and as the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs I'm frankly gobsmacked that FT could go to this extent with the community and not consult with the Minister," she said.
The Opposition's Peter Gutwein says he is not surprised by the revelations.
"This clearly demonstrates the dysfunctional nature of this Government, absolutely."
"I don't think there could be a clearer description of this Government as dysfunctional at the moment."
The Australian Greens leader, Bob Brown, says it is a cruel move by Forestry Tasmania.
He says the Aboriginal community made him aware of the issue two weeks ago and he has urged them to be wary of the state-owned company.
"This is quite a treacherous activity that Forestry Tasmania has been involved in."
It is a rogue organisation that sees itself outside the reach of proper probity by the State Government and State Parliament and it's pretty cruel, using the Indigenous community in Tasmania."
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