MEMBERS of the Save Our South West action group visited Perth recently to present the Minister for Forest Products Paul Omodei with a letter on behalf of their communities urging the government to stand firm on their commitment to the sustainable jarrah timber industry.
Group coordinator Pat Martin said the communities needed certainty for the future.
“We are devastated by the government’s backflip after signing the Regional Forest Agreement and are asking them not to cave in to the continuing pressure by the selfish green movement,” Mrs Martin said.
“The greens’ aims are to lock away all the native forest which will destroy our lives and communities in the process,” she said.
The letter, given to Mr Omodei prior to a green rally at Parliament House, said: “We believed that our future and that of our children were secure when the Regional Forest Agreement was signed in May last year.
“However, to our dismay, major concessions were granted to the green movement after the signing of the agreement, which have created massive hardships in our communities.
“Continuing forest protests being staged by the green movement in legitimate working areas such as Boorara in Northcliffe are causing division in our communitites.
“It is extremely distressing to all of us to be continually faced with the barrage of media coverage and half truths that is occurring.
“We find this particularly frustrating, when the outcome of the Ferguson Report caused such devastation to our lives.
“The Ferguson Report also initiated a process of community consultation when logging areas come into dispute.
“This is not being honoured by the greens. They continue to disrupt the legitimate work place of the timber industry, rather than enter into consultation.
“It would appear they prefer to use this type of confrontation as a means of frightening the people of Perth with their doom and gloom predictions and attempt to persuade the government to further bow to their demands.
“Please do not pander to green pressure. Stand firm and support the people of the South West who are dedicted to making our communities vibrant and growing places to live.”
