Media Release
2 March 2010
BROWNS IN CHARGE:
KENEALLY BACKS DOWN ON RED GUM
PROTECTION
Both The Wilderness Society and the National Parks Association of NSW today
slammed the Keneally Government, following their back down on River Red Gum
protection this morning. The decision opens up the heart of the Murray River
floodplain, the exceptional Millewa forest, to on-going logging for at least five
years.
“This confirms that the ‘browns’ are firmly in charge of the NSW Government and
the Premier,” said Carmel Flint, NPA spokesperson.
“Former Premier Rees described the Millewa Group of forests as the ‘jewel in the
conservation crown’ when he declared a National Park across them.
“Premier Keneally has today chopped the promised protected area in half, and
turned her back on independent advice from her own scientists that
recommended protecting all of Millewa immediately.”
“Allowing logging to continue within Millewa for another 5 years will not leave a
forest worth protecting. Premier Keneally has failed the environment,” said Ms
Flint.
“This is yet another indelible black mark on the abysmal environmental record of
the NSW Labor Government. Without the full protection of Millewa, the River
Red Gum decision is an empty shell”, said Peter Cooper, The Wilderness Society
Sydney campaigner.
“We are appalled that the NSW Environment Trust established to protect the
environment is now instead being used to continue logging and reward
environmental destruction.
“We call on the Federal Government to now finally put an end to illegal logging in
River Red Gum. They need to call this logging in under the federal environment
laws and deliver the environmental outcomes the NSW Government has failed to
deliver,” said Mr Cooper.
Contact:
Carmel Flint NPA 0400 521 474
Peter Cooper TWS 0415 894 353
NEWS 
