HOWARD GIVES $200M FOR INDONESIAN TREES BUT REFUSED $75M TO PROTECT QLD NATIVE FORESTS

Prime Minister John Howard, who yesterday announced $200 million to protect Indonesian rainforests from logging, refused to provide $75 million to protect Queensland native forests from broadscale clearing.

Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace said John Howard refused a 2004 Queensland request for funding to end broadscale clearing.

This was despite the fact that the end of broadscale clearing – on December 31 2006 - is the single greatest contribution made in Australia to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under Kyoto accounting rules.

It will lead to a cut in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 20 million tonnes each year.

Queensland requested $75 million for the program but had to foot the full $150 million cost when the Commonwealth refused.

Nontheless John Howard was happy to boast that Australia will meet Kyoto targets when this achievement was overwhelmingly based on the end of broadscale clearing in Queensland.

It also raises the question whether this initiative is in Australia’s best interest. This investment would appear not to be recognised under current Kyoto accounting rules.

“What is good enough for Indonesian rainforests was not good enough for Australian native vegetation,” Mr Wallace said.

“This proves John Howard is the Johnny-come-lately of climate change.

“He had a chance to act on greenhouse gas emissions by supporting Queensland but he was not interested because there was no election looming.

“His Indonesian plan is a plan for votes, not to help fight climate change.

“John Howard is pretending he’s a born again tree-hugger but the trees are in Indonesia not in Australia.”

In 2004, the Queensland Government announced a two year phase-out period to end broadscale clearing.

Before that commitment was made, up to 500,000 hectares of remnant native vegetation was being cleared annually – this has now been halted.

The move has protected many millions of hectares of remnant vegetation.

The Howard Government was asked to meet half the cost of ending broadscale clearing – some $150 million – but refused any assistance.

Mr Wallace said it was hypocritical of the Howard Government to then claim Australia had met Kyoto targets when it was on the back of Queensland’s achievement.

Mr Wallace said instead of funding Indonesian forestry industries, he could have helped drought-affected Queensland landholders to set take part in carbon-trading schemes.

The Prime Minister also could have helped natural resources groups throughout Australia to plant trees, stabilise river banks and reduce sedimentation.

“The global benefit of of tree-planting initiatives can as readily be achieved here at home,” Mr Wallace said.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.