WA: Labor policies would tear timber towns apart: lobbyists

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2001
WA: Labor policies would tear timber towns apart: lobbyists

Timber lobbyists say the heart will be ripped out of timber towns in Western Australia's
south-west if the new Labor government carries out its pledge of immediately stopping
old-growth forest logging.

The Timber Communities of Australia say pain and utter despair for thousands of timber
workers, their families and local services would only take a phone call rather than an
act of parliament.

Spokeswoman TRISH BODLE says timber representatives are seeking talks with premier
GEOFF GALLOP to reconcile his apparently contradictory pledges.

Dr GALLOP says he will honour logging contracts until 2003 while at the same time moving
to end logging overnight.

Ms BODLE says it's not possible to honour the contracts while stopping logging.

Ms BODLE says timber communities also want detail about how Dr GALLOP will implement
plans to retrain workers in eco-tourism and plantation projects.

AAP RTV sd/klw/jn

KEYWORD: POLLWA LOGGING (PERTH)

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