COOLAH TOPS NATIONAL PARK
Mr SOURIS: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Land and Water Conservation. Will the Minister explain his public statement that national park areas to be declared in the Government's first year of office would have no impact whatsoever on the timber industry, given the pending closure of Morrison's sawmill at Coolah and the direct loss of 12 jobs?
Mr YEADON: It is obvious that the honourable member for Upper Hunter has not changed his style since he was a Minister in the previous Government. He dithered for a long time before he got his question out, in the same way that he dithered when he was a Minister. The Labor Party went to the election with a clear, comprehensive forestry policy. It was an historical, watershed policy, a policy that all Government members are proud to be associated with. It will resolve the bitter problems dividing rural New South Wales now and into the future. That is in stark contrast to what occurred under the previous Government, which did nothing despite having signed a national forest policy statement. That statement was thrown in the bottom drawer and forgotten. Under the previous Government if National Party backbenchers had a problem, they would phone the Minister, who would fix things regardless of environmental controls or regulations.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Lane Cove to order and advise her that she is now on three calls to order.
Mr YEADON: There was no rhyme, no reason, no policy - only adhockery and dithering, features that still characterise the honourable member for Upper Hunter. This Government went to the election with a clear policy to create 24 new national parks in its first year of government. One of those was the Coolah Tops National Park. The Government is fulfilling that promise and is creating the Coolah Tops National Park.