#3: Green groups flexing their muscles, major parties remain silent

One of the major objectives of this blog is to get the major parties to declare, during the course of the election campaign, whether and how they will stand up against the policies and agendas of the Greens and the ENGO's, particularly as they relate to the timber industry.

A recent article in The Australian gives an indication of how powerful these ENGO's are in terms of numbers, with the big four, (TWS, ACF, WWF and Greenpeace), having 1.5 million members between them. What the article didn't say is that the combined annual revenue raised by these groups is more than $80 million, from donations, membership subscriptions and other sources. You can create a lot of impact with that kind of money! These groups have the Greens in their pockets.

Both major parties are keen to attract Greens preferences, and neither wants to upset them. However, unless the major parties spell it out, how can you trust them in government, especially if there is a hung parliament, and either party would have to accommodate them to establish and maintain government?

I want to see both parties declare their timber industry policies in detail, and for both to state they will not support any further lock-ups of forest in a manner that prevents any form of timber harvesting. They must declare they will oppose National Park and World Heritage Area establishment or extension if it is proposed in the manner of being a weapon against the timber industry. Our forests of course have to be managed carefully and properly, and in accordance with the requirements of the EPBC Act, but that does not mean timber harvesting should be abandoned completely or permanently. The best management practices ensure sustainable supply through careful management and regeneration.

I want to see a government declare its policies, and stick to them, even if it means being in minority on the floor of the House. If both major parties get back to bi-partisan support for the timber industry, the destructive green fundamentalism can be of little or no impact. If Greens members bring down a government, so bit it, and may the consequences be on their heads. If a government sticks to its principles, the community will support and return them.

See The Australian article, here, and if it doesn't scare you, it should...

 Coalition of environment groups demands legal overall

·      THE AUSTRALIAN

·      MAY 18, 2016 12:00AM

·      SAVE

·      PRINT

·         Graham Lloyd

Environment Editor

Sydney

Wilderness Society national campaign manager Lyndon Schneiders says ‘we need streamlined laws with clear objectives and real teeth’. Picture: Hollie Adams

A grand coalition of environment groups claiming 1.5 million ­members has entered the federal election campaign with a blueprint to reform environment laws.

Proposed laws would allow the federal government to override the states on land-clearing and end state-based regional forest agreements. The groups claim the new system would reduce ­litigation and provide greater ­certainty for business.

Wilderness Society national campaign manager Lyndon Schneiders said existing laws ­“create a mass of paperwork that drives business mad”. “We need streamlined laws with clear objectives and real teeth,” he said.

The blueprint is at odds with Coalition policy, which calls for a one-stop shop to delegate federal environment decision-making to the states. The reform agenda laid out by 42 environment groups under the Places You Love banner aims to make the federal government the key decision-maker.

But most decisions would be taken away from government and given to an independent national authority which would act as regulator, planner and adviser.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt and opposition spokesman Mark Butler have been briefed on the plan and challenged to commit to a timetable for its ­introduction. Both are to appear at the National Press Club today to debate environment policies.

Under the blueprint, within 30 days of being sworn in, the new government would convene a taskforce to commence development of a new environment act and an independent environment authority. The taskforce would be given a year to develop recommendations, with legislation to be introduced in 2018.

Mr Schneiders said it was time for “a new consensus to ... protect the ­environment effectively and with the minimum of bureaucracy”. “The government’s attempt to hand-pass responsibility ... to the states has failed,” he said.

The four key elements of the blueprint are: a new commonwealth environment act within two years; expanding the scope of federal oversight of environmental matters; creating an independent national authority similar to the US Federal Environment Agency; and enshrining accountability, integrity and transparency in decision-making and access to information.

Labor has already ruled out giving environmental decision-making powers to the states. Mr Hunt has remained committed to the one-stop shop despite legislation being blocked in the Senate. The environment groups involved in the blueprint include WWF Australia, Australian Conservation Foundation, Wilderness Society and Greenpeace.