Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)
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The delegation is welcome. I have a couple of queries that may sound as if I am thoroughly in favour of selling off every tree but that is not the case. Perhaps the delegation will clarify the following matters for me.

Mr. Magner listed some of the standards that he worries will be compromised if harvesting rights are sold. To me, they look like standards that anybody involved in a private enterprise would be foolish to ignore. For example, protection against disease, due care for the environment and sustainable forest management. If one is in the business of making money one must do those things. Which standards would he deem to be particularly at risk?

With regard to safeguards, Mr. Magner said, "The effect of privatisation on public forests would reduce the area of public forest ownership to less than 2%". On what did he base his comment? If one wants to encourage people to enter the business and make money then why would the amount of land be reduced? I am sorry but I did not understand his comment. He further stated that the amount of exports had grown considerably in the past number of years and that sawmillers said privatisation could decimate that. Again, I am at a loss to understand why. If one is in the business of making money then one would look to where one can sell timber, sustain and grow export markets rather than allow them to wilt. I would be grateful if Mr. Magner could clarify the matters. I share the concerns expressed by Senator Comiskey and many other people about harvesting rights. I want to understand the arguments made by Mr. Magner to keep the rights.