The conspicuous absence of the elected members of the Victorian Government at a major forestry seminar shows Labor is simply not interested in having a Victorian timber industry, according to the Liberal Spokesperson for Forestry, Graeme Stoney

The Bracks Government last week passed a Bill through Parliament that threatens the long-term viability of the timber industry, Shadow Forestry Spokesman Graeme Stoney said today.

Shadow Forestry Spokesman Graeme Stoney said Bracks Government Finance Minister John Lenders was today speechless when asked to explain his powers under the Sustainable Forestry (Timber) Bill, now before Parliament

The timber industry is furious following the introduction of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Bill to State Parliament, Liberal Spokesperson for Forestry Graeme Stoney said today.

The Bracks Government has refused to bring Craig’s Hut into the Mt Stirling resort but it is still likely to be managed and funded by the new Mount Buller – Mt Stirling Board.

The appointment of Ms Tricia Caswell as CEO of Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) has been welcomed by Liberal Spokesperson for Forestry, Graeme Stoney MP.

The decision to conduct major fuel reduction operations over autumn is a welcome measure to prevent devastating fires such as last year’s major bushfires that ravaged thousands of hectares of public and private land in Victoria.

Recent logging protests in East Gippsland have highlighted a weakness in Victorian law according to Liberal Spokesperson for Forestry Graeme Stoney who visited Bairnsdale and Orbost sites yesterday.

Liberal Spokesperson for Forestry Graeme Stoney has called on the Bracks Government to take urgent action to remove the illegal protestors blocking Gippsland logging operations.

The Auditor-General has confirmed that timber contractors have been badly treated by the Bracks Government's Our Forests Our Future program, Liberal Spokesperson for Forestry, Graeme Stoney, said today.

A Bracks Government proposal to ban the use of fox hounds to scent trail deer has been challenged in State Parliament by Upper House Member, Graeme Stoney

The degradation of the Mount Disappointment State Forest by trail bikes and 4-Wheel Drives was raised in Parliament last week by the Liberal Spokesperson for Forestry, Graeme Stoney

It is important the Bracks Government does not support the Greens Party rally at Parliament House which called for a halt to timber harvesting in the Strzeleckis and the creation of a park.

The Bracks Government's decision to log bushfire affected stands of timber is the right one BUT has been too slow in coming.