Senator LUDWIG (10:38 AM) —In respect of the regional forest agreement amendment for the objects of the act, it is disappointing to find that the government has decided not to support objects for an act—objects which go specifically to matters to ensure the regional forest agreements between the Commonwealth and the states are consistent with the national forest policy statement of 1992. It is disappointing to find that this government is not about ensuring that objects are placed in legislation it brings before the parliament. What is also disappointing is its view about objects. It has taken a considerable view in respect of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 in putting extensive objects within that act. But in respect of this Regional Forest Agreements Bill 1998 , it has decided not to put any in.

The bill, which provides for a `comprehensive, adequate and reserve system', would seem to beg for objects to provide certainty, consistency and rationality for the process. Having spent some time associated with the industry, I can say that without doubt the people out in those regions would look at objects to give them some direction as to the processes that have been undertaken and been performed by the various parties in coming to an agreement under the Regional Forest Agreements Bill 1998 . Having gone to Monto, Eidsvold and through those areas, and to Bundaberg, and spoken about the regional forest agreement in Queensland to various people from the local councils, it is clear to me that if objects were included within the legislation we would be able to explain to people the direction that we wish to take and the processes that are provided for. They would then have some understanding of what the legislation proposes to do and be able to turn to the objects to help them in that process. Without the objects, the bill lacks that wholeness that legislation of today should have.

The objects that have been proposed would ensure that those sorts of needs are met and are provided for. They would not only ensure that the RFA process is to provide things such as the development of internationally competitive and ecologically sustainable development, wood production, wood product industries and maximising value added opportunities and the efficient use of wood resources, but would also ensure that there is management of the Australian forests in an ecologically sustainable manner for a range of uses that include tourism, recreation and the production of non-wood products. People would then be able to look at those objects and come to the conclusion that the Regional Forest Agreements Bill 1998 has that wholeness the legislation requires.

Having also participated in the rally in Queensland and spoken to a number of workers in the process, I can see that you could then use the objects to be able direct them to the bill and say, `These are the objects. This is what the legislation is going to mean.' Those people are very concerned about the industry. They are concerned about their jobs. At the moment in Queensland, a process of the agreement has been gone through to a certain extent where we are awaiting a decision. In the process of getting there, a number of options have been made available to the parties. Those options have also been put out by the AWU and the Regional Forest Society, which have put out a plan which provides for an adequate and representative reserve system. They have also tried to ensure that both the environment and the industry would be looked after and, most particularly, that the jobs in the area would also be looked after. Objects would be able to coalesce all of that and provide that direction. It is disappointing to find that objects such as these cannot be supported.