Media Releases

WA’s ‘Great Barrier Reef’ under threat: Government set to break Premier’s promise to protect whales - March 19, 2010

Safety for one of the world’s most important humpback whale breeding areas on the Kimberley coast is at risk following signals from the government that it may break the Premier’s promise to protect them “forever”. WA conservation groups today warned that the internationally significant humpback whale nursery ground on the Kimberley coast between Broome and Camden Sound was vulnerable to irreversible damage.

Timber industry using old-style tactics for old-style politicians - March 17, 2010

Today’s planned stunt by timber industry groups is simply a shallow re-run of a similar 2006 election stunt, according to the Wilderness Society. This stunt is just another example of logging companies dictating policy positions to politicians. Instead of showing vision and understanding the causes of the current crisis in the logging industry, these industry groups are trying to lock them into old-style policies the community doesn’t want and the industry doesn’t need

Who can you trust on forests this Saturday? - March 17, 2010

The Wilderness Society today released a report card assessing the three major parties' policies on forests. Based on our assessment, the Greens rated the highest, demonstrating strong environmental and logging industry reform policies. Labor and Liberal scored very poorly, reflecting their lack of vision in relation to our natural environment, particularly with regards to forests.

A change at the top of Gunns would produce win-win for Tasmania - March 16, 2010

Tasmania’s native forests would have a future and jobs at the company would be safer if there was a fundamental change at a Board level at Gunns Limited, The Wilderness Society’s executive director Alec Marr said today. Mr Marr said reports that shareholders are seeking to remove chairman John Gay presented a golden opportunity to shift Gunns onto a more sustainable footing.

Community gets behind ‘Stop the Kimberley gas plant’ TV Ad campaign – now airing on Australia’s east coast - March 11, 2010

The Wilderness Society has joined with Kimberley residents, Indigenous Traditional Owners, local environment groups and professional filmmakers to produce a television advertising campaign highlighting opposition to the proposed LNG industry on the Kimberley coast. The 30 second advertisement has been shown on WA television and a fundraising campaign has provided the backing required to launch the ad for a primetime run on SBS world news in Sydney and Melbourne, beginning 8th of March 2010.

Burnie forum to explore forest solution ideas - March 10, 2010

Our Common Ground will host a community forum in Burnie this Saturday to explore how Tasmania can resolve the long running conflict over forestry in Tasmania.The community meeting will be chaired by local MLC and President of the Legislative Council Sue Smith, and will feature experts on resource, environmental, industry and tourism issues. 12 noon Saturday 13 March, Burnie Civic Centre

Greens’ forest policy a welcome step towards a full forest solution - March 10, 2010

The Wilderness Society today welcomed the Tasmanian Greens Forest Transition strategy as a step in the right direction, offering high-conservation-value forest protection along with a plan for widespread reform to the forest industry. This policy is in stark contrast to the old-style logging policies of Liberal and Labor and offers real hope of resolving the conflict over forestry in Tasmania.

Conservationists call for immediate Red Gum logging moratorium - March 09, 2010

The Wilderness Society today called for an immediate logging moratorium in those forests proposed to be protected as part of the NSW’s Government Red Gum decision.

New agreement supports Indigenous and conservation goals for the Great Western Woodlands - March 09, 2010

The Wilderness Society (TWS) and the Goldfields Land and Sea Council (GLSC) have signed an important agreement to work together for the protection of WA’s extraordinary Great Western Woodlands (GWW). The partners will develop a co-operative approach along with other land users to safeguard the ecology and cultural values of the region, and to ensure land justice and economic opportunities for the region’s Traditional Owners.

Brown's in charge: Keneally backs down on Red Gum protection - March 01, 2010

Both The Wilderness Society and the National Parks Association of NSW today slammed the Keneally Government, following their back down on River Red Gum protection this morning. The decision opens up the heart of the Murray River floodplain, the exceptional Millewa forest, to on-going logging for at least five years.