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

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