14-7-2007

400 people braved the cold on 13th July to attend a public forum at Northcote Town Hall on the topic "Burning forests for electricity? You must be joking!"

Greens Leader Bob Brown addressed the forum on federal legislation classifying electricity produced from burning native forests as 'green energy'.

The meeting was in the federal seat of Batman, held by pro-logging Labor stalwart Martin Ferguson, who is advocating Australia burn four million tonnes per annum of logging waste from plantation and native forest sources.

Senator Brown said both Labor and the Coalition were behind proposals for forest furnaces in Tasmania and Victoria.

The furnaces will create or add long term demand for logging of native forests and wildlife habitats, including in Melbourne's water catchments.

Senator Brown said classifying forest furnaces as 'green energy' deceived consumers, who would mistakenly pay a premium for electricity coming from the destruction of native forests.