Shane Ardern
National Party Forestry Spokesman

19 December 2006

Forestry sector deserves proper representation

Jim Andertons poor representation of the forestry sector has seen the industry sink to an all time low, says National’s Forestry spokesman, Shane Ardern.

“The Minister is taking advice on what is needed in the forestry sector from the same bureaucrats who made such a mess of the Kyoto figures.

“It’s no wonder the forestry industry is crying foul.

“It is hypocritical of him to be crying green when in actual fact his package makes wood - a sustainable and an environmentally friendly material - potentially too expensive to use as a building product.

“It will move the market into using steel and concrete, an industry which in the manufacture of these products, emits carbon and uses non-reusable resources.

“What incentive does the industry have in working with a Minister who clearly lacks the knowledge to help forestry move forward, especially when discussions done in good faith by the industry have been ignored?

“Forestry is too important to be left in the hands of a Minister who is clearly outnumbered and outmanoeuvred in Cabinet.”

ENDS

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