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State Politicians: what they think

Local State MP for Gembrook, Tammy Lobato has taken a strong public stand against logging in Melbourne water supply catchments. Lobato’s position is consistent with the Yarra Ranges Shire no logging stand.

However pro- logging industry groups have taken offence to the ALP MP for Gembrook for daring to go against her own ALP party pro-logging policies for the Melbourne catchments.

Well done Tammy for principles before party politics.  Well done for standing up to the native forest woodchip industry.

MP’s logging lockout

Leader-Lilydale and Yarra Valley,
Page 1 (Mon 18 Feb 2008)
Author: Bryan Allchin

PRO-logging protesters held Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato’s car to ransom last
Tuesday over comments she made in support of a logging ban in water
catchments.

Sixteen women, whose livelihoods depend on the industry, chained themselves
around Ms Lobato’s car in Yarra Junction.

Timber Communities Australia, which organised the protest, said the women
were angry at Ms Lobato’s calls for logging in Upper Yarra water catchments
to be suspended pending the outcome of an inquiry.

“It is hard to believe that an ALP member can come out against their own
party’s policy and against an industry she has claimed to support since
gaining power in 2002,” the group’s national convener, Healesville’s
Kersten Gentle, said.

Ms Lobato has called on the State Government to stop logging in water
catchment areas in the Upper Yarra until the Wood and Water Study being
conducted by the Department of Sustainability and Environment is completed.

Ms Lobato said she had offered to meet with the protesters about her
concerns for logging in the Armstrong Creek catchment but had been rebuffed
twice.

“I have made it clear publicly that my concerns relate to the logging
within this particular water catchment and not the logging industry in
general,” Ms Lobato said.

The protest delayed Ms Lobato from meeting with constituents in Warburton,
and she is now reconsidering her approach to community liaison.

“When my constituents who want to meet with me in their own townships are
subjected to verbal abuse, I obviously need to consider whether my
commitment to being accessible by conducting mobile offices is posing
unacceptable risks,” Ms Lobato said.

The protesters unchained themselves when the police arrived.

Write to your MP and ask them if they support an end to logging in Melbourne’s catchments so the people of Melbourne can have more water. When you receive a response, please email or post us a copy.

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