reflex action launched

Over the weekend I spoke at the Kick Reflex out campaign launch at the Maryvale Paper Mill.








Robbie Thorpe, from the Krautungalung people of the Gunnai Nation did the welcome to country.

"We know that Victoria is the most cleared state in Australia with less than 30% of our original bushland remaining on public land and less than 8% on private land.

We know about the link between forests, water supply and water quality. Because of logging in water catchments we have lost billions and billions of litres of water, the ongoing logging of water catchments continues to put our water supply at risk.
















Greens Senator, Scott Ludlam and Samantha Dunn, Greens Candidate for Eastern Victoria at the Maryvale Pulp Mill.

We know that the Mountain Ash forests found in Eastern Victoria have the greatest carbon carrying capacity of any forest in the world and have a significant role to play in addressing climate change.

We know that the continued logging of wet forests makes them more fire prone.

We know that the ongoing clearance of vegetation contributes significant amount greenhouse gas emissions.

And we know that logging our forests has significant impacts on biodiversity with endangered species on the brink of extinction including our own state faunal emblem, the Leadbeater's Possum.

In spite of all this knowledge our government continues to condone the logging of our native forests. The tragedy of it is that around 70%, 7 in 10 logs, are pulped for paper and when my community (Yarra Ranges) sees those logging trucks rumbling through their towns they see a wasted opportunity for a more sustainable timber industry and a more sustainable future.















We must have a new vision for timber and that is with plantation timber. It is possible to transition and with that transition we must look after the forestry workers.

Currently forestry workers are losing their jobs. But it's not through any conservation efforts, it's due to the increased mechanisation of the industry, consumer preference for pine and increased wood chipping.

The Greens are committed to supporting workers through the industry transition to a new sustainable future.










Are woodchips from our native forests the only way to make paper? No of course they're not. Existing plantations are the way forward, there will need to be transport infrastructure upgrades from Western Victoria to deliver plantation timber (to Maryvale) and government has a role to play in seeing this happen.

Did you know it is not possible to purchase Australian made paper that is 100% recyclable post consumer waste? This is a travesty that consumers wanting to do the right thing are forced to purchase this product from the US or Europe. It a market gap crying out to be filled by an Australian paper maker.

A transition of the timber and paper products industry will see protection of our water supply catchments and will start to redress the loss of precious biodiversity which provides us with ecological services. It will also assist in addressing climate change.

It is possible to have a vibrant economy in thriving regional communities with increased employment opportunities but pulping our forests is not the way.

Is it a good use of our forests? No.

What are you going to do about it?

Who are you going to tell about today's event?

What brand of paper are you going to buy?

It is a scandal to see our native forests pulped, it is time to stop, it is no longer acceptable.

It is time to get out of forests and into plantations."