Senator BROWN —My question is to the Minister for the Environment. I ask the minister, as Australia's premier environmental officer, will you join those conservationists who are trying to protect the Mother Cummings Peak forest and the Great Western Tiers against the destruction which is occurring there today in national estate value forests? Secondly, I ask, in light of Senator Parer's information to a Senate committee last year that, following the regional forest agreement, Commonwealth action on forests in East Gippsland transferred to the Prime Minister's department, was it you or the Prime Minister who gave the go-ahead for the illegal logging in the Goolengook River heritage zone in Victoria last year and this year? What action are you taking, in response to the court's finding in East Gippsland last week that that logging has no legal basis, to see that logging halts not only in Goolengook but in East Gippsland until the mess you created is sorted out and until a lawful basis is found for continued logging?

Senator HILL (Environment) —We are pleased with the progress we have made in relation to regional forest agreements. After the mess that we inherited as well from Senator Faulkner, I might say, I am pleased that we were able to achieve a regional forest agreement in East Gippsland. I am pleased that we are close to achieving one in the central highlands in Victoria. I am pleased that we have been able to achieve one in Tasmania. I am pleased with the progress we are making towards achieving one in Western Australia, which I expect to be complete within the next few months. If we had got a bit more cooperation from the New South Wales state government we would be closer to achieving one in Eden as well so, if you have any influence, Senator, you might pass that on to your mates back in Sydney.

Why am I pleased? I am pleased because it gives the opportunity for this country, in an unprecedented way, to preserve the best of conservation values in those forests, while at the same time allowing industry to grow and to employ with certainty through sustainable forestry practices—ecologically sustainable practices and economically sustainable practices. That was the purpose of the program we have set in place.

I have to say that I thought the outcome in Tasmania with respect to what the honourable senator seems to be referring to today was an excellent one. It cost the Commonwealth quite a bit of money, but we were prepared to put that into providing long-term sustainable jobs within the industry.

Senator Murphy —How many jobs? Zip!

Senator HILL —Are you criticising that?

Senator Brown —Madam President, on a point of order: it is halfway through the answering time for this question and the minister has not addressed the specific questions which I put to him, including the ques tion as to whether he or the Prime Minister authorised the illegal logging in Goolengook.

The PRESIDENT —A number of questions were posed initially, and I believe that Senator Hill has been addressing them. There are others still unanswered.

Senator HILL —Madam President, I thought the first question was about the Great Western Tiers. I was saying that I believe that the outcome in Tasmania was an excellent outcome, but there are always some who are not prepared to accept a fair outcome; particularly a fair outcome in relation to jobs. This government is committed to good environmental outcomes, but it is also committed to providing Australian jobs and, in this instance, Tasmanian jobs.

Senator Murphy —Tell us how many jobs in Tasmania. Tell us? How many? Zip!

Senator HILL —In Tasmania we can, pursuant to that agreement, now have an excellent conservation regime, but at the same time give the industry greater hope than it has ever had before, Senator. As a coalition member, I am proud of that.

In relation to the recent litigation in Victoria, I am advised that this matter relates to a point of law concerning the Victorian Heritage Rivers Act 1992. I am not aware of any implications of the decision for the regional forest agreement that this government signed last year. The Victorian government, I am told, is currently seeking legal advice on the matter, but I understand that it is likely that the Victorian government will appeal the decision. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

Senator BROWN —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. Minister, in the meantime, on the basis of legal advice which I have furnished to your office, is it not true that there is a prima facie case that continued logging in East Gippsland is illegal? Are you going to act on that, as the primary environmental officer in this country, or is your inactivity going to stand as testimony to the continuing fact that instead you are Australia's premier bio-stitute?

Senator HILL (Environment) —I think that is supposed to be amusing, Madam President. The point is that we believe we have a good outcome for the environment and a good outcome for jobs in East Gippsland as well as in Tasmania. A point of law has now arisen under the Victorian legislation. That point of law will ultimately be determined in higher courts. I have said, Senator, it would be inappropriate for me to delve further into that matter at this time.