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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1685 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

Mr Wood said the Greens try to stop the logging of native trees. Yes, we try to stop the logging of native trees in old growth forests, but we promote hardwood plantations, as you know. It is not quite correct to imply that we are doing something strange here. Obviously there is a use for hardwood. I suggest you would find a market for it if it was available. I think people still prefer hardwood for building.

Another argument put by Mr Wood was about jobs. We are not saying that we should get rid of the whole industry. The suggestion by Mr Wood was that the loss of 3 per cent would create a huge disaster for the industry. Evidence was not produced to support that.

It was argued that the area in question is designated on the Territory Plan as public open space, but public open space does not have to be a pine plantation. That is not a strong argument either.

It was said that we have to spend the insurance on planting pines and that if we do not plant pines then we will not be spending the money. We could choose to take a longer term view of this area of land and other potential sources of revenue from the site. A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis has not been presented.

The view of conservation groups in the ACT is different from the minister's view about how big a deal weeds would be if the land were to sit for a year. There would be some weed issues certainly, but there are weed issues when you plant pine too. There has been a fairly consistent complaint about seedlings or weedlings-I cannot remember the word. I am told that they are wildlings. They move out from the pine plantation and are creating problems in our natural areas and nature parks.

We had a rather energetic debate about the pesticides it is necessary to use with a crop such as new pine trees in one area close to residences. There were fears about the impact on people of the application of the pesticides that are necessary to ensure that young pine trees are protected from other seedlings growing around the forest. They would be seedlings, wouldn't they? I think they are seedlings, not wildlings. So there will be weed and pest issues, regardless of the use, whether the area is planted or it is not. Managing weeds has been a continuing issue in restoring the area of Boboyan pines. Weeds are an issue whatever happens to the land.

It is clear that I am not getting support for the motion from anyone. It has been an interesting debate.

MR SPEAKER: Before I proceed to put it to the vote, I know that people want to help in the course of debate, but help from the gallery is highly disorderly. It was given in a spirit of goodwill and Ms Tucker received it in a spirit of goodwill. In fact, she may have even prompted it.

Question resolved in the negative.

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