Brown expects disappointing forest plan. 01/05/2005. ABC News Online.

Last Update: Sunday, May 1, 2005. 7:05am (AEST) Brown expects disappointing forest plan Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown says Prime Minister John Howard’s election promise to protect more of Tasmania’s old-growth forests is unlikely to end the forests debate. Senator Brown says Mr Howard is likely to use the Timber Communities Australia (TCA) national conference in Launceston on May 14 to unveil the forest package negotiated with Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon. He says while some Tarkine rainforest and the north Styx forest will be protected, the south Styx forests will not. "We’re going to see a faster rate of destruction in the wake of Prime Minister Howard’s announcement, which is going to be dressed up to appear as if this is the end of the forests dispute in Tasmania," he said. "Because Prime Minister Howard hasn’t shown the leadership to put an end to the destruction of Tasmania’s high-conservation forests and their wildlife, this issue is going to be far, far from over." A spokesman for Timber Communities Australia says Mr Howard and Mr Lennon have been invited to attend the conference. Senator Brown says the choice of venue to announce the forests’ deal suggests most of the state’s high conservation-value forests will go to the woodchipper. "This announcement is going to sell Tasm