Forest Fight Spurs Oz Greens To Undercut Labor Party Campaign

[hatrack]

"The Greens are threatening to withhold crucial preferences from the Labor Party in its most marginal seat as the battle for a South-West forest turns political.

In the first tree-top forest protest since the 2001 State election, protesters have set up four platforms at the Ludlow tuart forest north of Busselton in protest at the Government's approval for mineral sands mining at the site. With the support of Greens WA, the protesters claim the area contains some of the world's most precious old-growth tuarts and have complained that mining 141ha of the 2000ha forest could be devastating.

Greens MLC Chrissy Sharp said environmental groups felt betrayed that the State Government had approved mining - which is still subject to an appeals and final approval process - especially after the Greens gave Labor essential support at the last election.

Greens preferences, on the back of Labor's pledge to end logging in old growth forests, is widely attributed for Dr Gallop's victory. But Dr Sharp said yesterday the Government could not assume Greens support at the next election. "We are considering our preference options for the seat of Bunbury, but politically, this is very interesting," Dr Sharp said."

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http://www.thewest.com.au/20040707/news/general/tw-news-general-home-sto127704.html