Senator Allison asked the Minister for the Environment, upon notice, on 16 June 1997:

(1) Is the Minister aware that the Regional Forest Agreement for western Victoria was to rely heavily on the outcome of a special investigation by the Victorian Land Conservation Council into box and ironbark forests and woodlands.

(2) Is the Minister aware that the Victorian Government abolished the Victorian Land Conservation Council before it could complete its report into that investigation.

(3) How can a guarantee be given that the Commonwealth forest reserve benchmark of 15 per cent of the pre-European extent of each forest type will be satisfied in the Western Victorian Regional Forest Agreement when the study integral to the agreement process has not been completed.

Senator Hill —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) Yes.

(2) Yes. The Victorian Government has announced the replacement of the Land Conservation Council with a new body, the Environment Conservation Council. The Victorian Government has also announced that the Environment Conservation Council will be responsible for the completion of the Box/Ironbark Special Investigation and that completion of this investigation remains a priority.

(3) The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments remain committed to establishing a Comprehensive, Representative and Adequate forest reserve system in the West region of Victoria which meets the nationally agreed reserve criteria. The West region Regional Forest Agreement is scheduled for completion in 1999 and the findings of the Box/Ironbark Special Investigation will be available for consideration during the preparation of the agreement.