National Secretary Michael O'Connor took part in a radio broadcast discussing a range of issues including unsustainable logging overseas and the impacts on the Australian timber industry and the issues confronting the pulp and paper industry.
"Sustainability, for people involved in the industry, is not just making sure that the environmental values are protected and enhanced, but it also means that social values are protected and enhanced.
"So these companies not only have to ensure that they're harvesting in a sustainable manner, but that means they have to ensure they have a proper health and safety regime for people who work in the forests, that they're dealing with the indigenous peoples properly, and they're recognising ILO (International Labour Organisation) standards.
"And I think that's a big challenge for some companies. Some of these companies are claiming they've met those challenges, well it needs to be verified."
Michael O'Connor Radio National Background Briefing 30 May 2010.
