Timber Workers for Forests, which represents about 600 sawmillers, furniture makers and other craftsmen, says that forest reserves suffer from mismanagement. It is also refutes claims that timber companies will have to source logs from overseas if the reserves are protected.
But some sawmillers believe protection of the reserves following any Greens election victory could dry up sources of blackwood, which would necessitate importing “unsustainable timber” from countries such as Indonesia.
