25 August 2005
Brash needs to confirm what is National's forestry policy
It scarcely seems possible but National's forestry and environment spokesmen have again contradicted themselves over
National's plan to log New Zealand's conservation areas, Conservation Minister Chris Carter said today.
"National's environment spokesman Nick Smith said on National Radio this morning and I quote: National's [forestry]
policy has not yet been released. It will be released in the next few weeks and there is an absolute commitment from
National that there will be less indigenous trees cut down."
"Now National's forestry spokesman Brian Connell has told NZPA that actually National's policy will definitely lead to
more native trees being cut down. What is more, he says the policy was approved by National's caucus and he's been
promoting it for some weeks.
NZPA says: "Asked if it [National's forestry policy] would lead to a rise in the number of native trees logged within
New Zealand, Mr Connell said: "Of course, because you are not allowed to harvest them at the moment unless there's very
clear exceptions".
"This situation has reached the point of farce. It seems the only thing Smith and Connell can agree on is that National
will be starting logging on conservation land," Mr Carter said.
"It is time National's leader Don Brash revealed which of National's spokesman he agrees with, and which is actually
National's policy."
ENDS