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Issue No. 252 | 18 February 2005 |
Wood for the Trees
Economics: Super Seduction Interview: Bono and Me Unions: The Eight Hour Day and the Holy Spirit Economics: OEC-Who? Technology: From Widgets to Digits Education: Dumb and Dumber Health: No Place for the Young History: The Work-In That Changed a Nation Review: Dare to Win Poetry: Labor's Dreaming
Detention Centre for Darling Harbour We Have Way of Making You Walk Financiers Squash Capital Idea Taskforce Stands Over Families Big Australian Changes the Rules
Politics The Soapbox Postcard The Locker Room Parliament
Millstone Revealed But Then Again
Labor Council of NSW |
News Carr Sees Trees for Wood
Workers and rural communities remain concerned that moves to corporatise State Forests could pose a risk to workers health and safety and create a bushfire hazard. It had been feared that privatisation would destroy thousands of regional jobs along with whole communities. While welcoming the Premier ruling out the sale of State Forests, Unions NSW assistant secretary Mark Lennon said concerns remained about any move to corporatise this public asset. "Our concerns around job losses, the gutting of rural and regional communities, environmental implications and proper fire management of these forests are as relevant for a potential corporatisation as they were for a potential privatisation." Craig Smith, secretary of the NSW branch of the CFMEU Forestry Division, echoed Lennon's concerns. "Do you think private operators would give a tinkers cuss the views of local communities," says Smith, who pointed to the large expansion of the Hyne Timber Mill in Tumbarumba being based on the guarantee of access to reliable log supply. Reliable log supply was not available in Victoria where the Kennett Government had privatised forests, leading to a large volume of timber being exported. Smith also pointed to more than just timber workers being affected with the impact upon regional infrastructure, including fire-fighting capability, if forests were managed solely on a profit basis. "It would be a regressive step for the safety of the recreational users of state forests, the general public on forest roads which also include school bus routes," Says Smith. "People have every right to be concerned." Unions NSW Assistant Secretary Mark Lennon believes rural and regional NSW needs some certainty about exactly what the Governments intentions are. "We plan to keep faith with our members and the communities they come from by seeking commitments from the Premier that adequately address these concerns," says Lennon. Representatives of the Australian Workers Union, the Public Service Association, and CFMEU Forestry Division have resolved to seek a meeting with Premier Carr to convey their concerns.
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