Nationals under fire in Mirboo North
MIRBOO North residents opposed to proposed logging at Mirboo North have indicated little love will be shown for The Nationals party on election day, November 24.
This declaration came after The Nationals’ Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien told a forum about proposed logging at Mirboo North on Sunday he would remain true to his party’s policy and support the native forestry industry.
Preserve our Forests is a group of locals against the logging of forest north of the township, and including around Lyrebird Forest Walk.
Steering committee chair Marg Thomas said, “We have been unable to convince Mr O’Brien of the need to act on our community’s concerns with regard to the logging issue and his declared position at the forum had not changed to any degree.
“In speaking to many residents over time and those attending the forum, there is little love for The Nationals’ policy on forests and the steering committee believes this will be reflected at the ballot box to the detriment of The Nationals.”
Ms Thomas said Mr O’Brien failed to consider the tourism impact of logging in Mirboo North’s forests and the potential job losses that could result.
Mr O’Brien said he was not pushing for the logging to take place, but did have to consider the needs of the entire electorate.
“I do not oppose the logging in Mirboo North and I do that for a number of reasons. Firstly, it would be easy for me as the sitting member in opposition to just blame the government and say it shouldn’t happen,” he said.
“However, for my whole life politically, I have been a supporter of the native forestry industry. My party, The Nationals, have also been supporters of the native forestry industry for our 100 year existence and that’s been clear for a long time.
“It is my view that if I were to change now it would be a complete breach of faith with the electorate that elected me nearly four years ago.
“I appreciate the views of those who live in Mirboo North saying ‘you’re not listening to your community’. My community is larger than just Mirboo North. I have around 45,000 electors. I represent Sale, Rosedale, into the Latrobe Valley and obviously the timber industry is important in terms of employment; equally in Yarram.”
The other five candidates – Ian Onley for the Greens, Geoff Pain for the Health Australia Party, Reade Smith for Sustainable Australia Party, Independent Michael Fozard and Rhonda Crooks for Derryn Hinch’s Justice Australia Party – backed Mirboo North’s bid to stop the logging.
“It was heartening to hear that all the candidates were very supportive of our campaign to preserve our forests,” Ms Thomas said.
“They saw our forests and the ambience they provide as intrinsic to our tourist economy and damage from any type of logging must be prevented. They also indicated that the soil, water supply, carbon capture and the wellbeing of our community would be at stake, including the survival of our threatened species.”
Mr Onley described VicForests’ approach to forest management as “outdated” and called for an end to wood pulp supply agreements.
“Clean air, water retention, carbon sequestration, a great place for locals and tourists to visit and experience biodiversity, shelter for stock and pastures on adjacent farms, honey production, breeding and feeding habitat for our endangered animals. These services are invaluable to our wellbeing and easily outweigh any monetary gain from harvesting,” he said.
“We must end the wood pulp supply agreement. At the present rate of logging we will run out of harvestable native forest in five years. Even if none of our forests were protected, we would still run out of pulp wood in the near future and the taxpayer be exposed to the risk of compensating a multi-national company.
“The old parties have been asleep at the wheel and refuse to wake up.”
Short URL: /?p=26490
Posted by 
