Tasmanian forestry peace talks back on hold

Tasmania's forestry peace talks remain in limbo after forest industry signatories walked away. The Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT) is refusing to rejoin the talks because the State Government has broken a promise over the restructure of Forestry Tasmania.

The Labor-Green government announced last month FT would retain its commercial operations, with non-commercial activities going to government departments, following an independent review. However, the crucial question of which body would manage production forests was left unresolved. Acting premier and forestry minister Bryan Green has proposed that a new independent statutory authority do so.

FIAT says Government officials gave assurances the state-owned company, Forestry Tasmania, would retain control over production forests. FIAT members voted unanimously to stay out of the peace talks until the Government fulfil its original pledge. Mr Edwards says the association will stay out of the talks for four weeks to give acting Premier Bryan Green time to change his mind. More >>

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