Walsh visits Noojee to reaffirm logging push
The State Nationals leader Peter Walsh met with forestry industry stakeholders, an Indigenous leader and some dairyfarmers during a visit to Narracan electorate last Wednesday.
After visiting Noojee for talks Mr Walsh said the Liberal Nationals Opposition would continue to push the government to reverse its decision to end native timber harvesting by 2030.
He reaffirmed the Coalition’s stance to continue logging in native forests in an environmentally sustainable way saying planting new trees were the best example of boosting carbon storage.
The old (mature) trees reach a stage where they are unable to store more carbon and new trees planted as replacements do better.
The timber industry claims the government’s proposed ban on harvesting would cost thousands of jobs in Victoria, including in the West and Central Gippsland areas, and force much of the supply to be sourced from overseas.
Management of forests was also a discussion point at a later meeting with Indigenous elder Cheryl Drayton.
Mr Walsh said Ms Drayton, who grew up in an areas bordering the Bunyip State forest where there had been two major and damaging bushfires in the past 11 years, spoke about traditional forest management which reduced the risk to flora and fauna species from wildfires.
Ms Drayton also stressed to Mr Walsh and Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood the need to deliver “real outcomes in closing the gap” between opportunities for Aboriginal people compared to other Australians.
Mr Walsh agreed that more money needed to be allocated to addressing the issue and that the focus should be on “delivering real outcomes” for Indigenous people.
Also on his schedule was a meeting with a small group of dairy farmers to hear their views on the state of the industry and the challenges it could face in the future.