Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Also for the benefit of the honourable gentleman, he will know that the power source for this proposed pulp mill will be renewable because, when you burn wood, you can grow a tree in its place. That is why most sensible commentators fully and utterly accept that wood is a renewable resource. Indeed, that is why countries such as France are now encouraging homeowners to switch to wood-fire power and heat generation in their own homes—because they acknowledge and accept that it is better for the environment.

I also understand from a good friend and colleague of mine that the Australian Greens Senate candidate has recently accepted a donation from the CFMEU, which is all very interesting in this context. If the actual concern is the power source, could I ask the honourable senator: what is the power source for all the other pulp manufacturers in Japan? It is coal, it is nuclear—energy sources that you oppose—but you still want to use paper. So the very simple question for the Australian Greens to answer is: if you want paper, how are you going to manufacture it? You want paper without trees.