Legislating for loggers

With a federal election looming the Howard Government has introduced new 
legislation that will open huge areas to logging, delisting 20,000 places 
that until now have been protected under the National Estate Register. The 
independent Australian Heritage Commission has been abolished: Environment 
Minister David Kemp will have complete power to decide what is and what is 
not protected under heritage listings.

Playing the nationalism card the Government will also approach other 
countries to have certain sites, such as Anzac Cove in Turkey and the 
Kokoda Trail in PNG, listed.

National icons such as the Sydney Opera House will also be listed, although 
there are no mineral resources or old growth forests at Circular Quay.

The legislation, opposed by the Greens and Labor, passed through the Senate 
with the support of the four independents.

Kemp sang their praises, with special mention for ex-Democrats leader Meg 
Lees: "Without the independent senators, in particular Meg Lees this would 
not have been achieved."

Calling the legislation a "greenwash", Greens Senate leader Bob Brown said, 
"The bills not only leave iconic Australian forests and wildlife to the 
woodchipers, they impose multi-million dollar penalties on any federal 
government that protects forests like Tasmania's Styx Valley of the 
Giants."

Senator Brown said that as the election approaches Prime Minister Howard 
will announce easy listings, but "we will remind voters that for each place 
announced he has taken 40 places off the existing National Estate 
Register."