This week’s armistice between the forestry workers’ union and environmental groups over logging of native forests is a victory for common sense and an example of what can be achieved when opposing sides are prepared to work together in the national interest.
After three decades of at times bitter battles, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union has decided on a radical change of strategy to ensure the survival of its workers’ futures sitting down with those who have been trying to put a stop to their chainsaws to find a solution.
The size of the shift on behalf of the union should not be under-played. Agreeing to work towards the eventual cessation of logging in all native forests is a monumental concession that shows great courage.
Likewise, the commitment by green groups to assist the forestry industry to build a larger, more sustainable plantation timber industry as part of that transition shows a willingness to recognise the need to protect the livelihoods of thousands of Australian families.
Achieving those stated goals for forestry will take time and will not be easy. But it is refreshing to see that, without the intervention of government, industry and environment groups have been able to see the bigger picture and work towards a goal that will ultimately benefit both sides.
This agreement, if it holds, should be held up as an example for other industries, including agriculture.
As Australia comes to terms with increasingly dry conditions, there is no point demonising irrigators when our farmers are already among the most efficient water users in the world.
Just as Australia will continue to rely on wood products, we will continue to rely on the produce our irrigators provide for us.
Yes, we need to reduce our consumption of water, and in some cases that may mean moving away from long-standing practices.
Farmers need our compassion and understanding during that process, and those calling for harsh reductions in water allocation need to take a different approach, one that recognises the needs of rural communities to survive and flourish in ways that are in harmony with broader goals of repairing damage to our waterways.
There are no easy answers when trying to satisfy sometimes mutually exclusive demands of the environment and industry.
But let us take a lesson from our forestry and environmental groups of how a mature, long-sighted approach to these difficult questions can ultimately result in a better outcome for all concerned.
