Fed: Brown praises Latham for agreeing to visit forest

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2003
Fed: Brown praises Latham for agreeing to visit forest

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - New Labor leader Mark Latham today won praise from Greens Senator
Bob Brown for agreeing to visit one of Tasmania's old growth forests.

Senator Brown offered to show Mr Latham the Styx Valley, north-west of Hobart, when
Mr Latham visits Tasmania this week.

Mr Latham said he may not have time to see the forest this week, but would make arrangements
to return in the near future.

Senator Brown said Mr Latham was part of a new generation which recognised the importance
of the environment.

"Unfortunately John Howard, who has put these forests on death row, has never been
to them, has never been within a bull's roar of them," Senator Brown said.

"(Mr) Latham's offer is one of those things that indicates it's generational change
(in the Labor leadership), because the new generation is so concerned about the environment."

Mr Latham praised Senator Brown's commitment to the environment.

"Senator Brown is someone I have a lot of respect for, I think he is a very fine advocate
of the environmental movement in this country," he told reporters.

"I'm keen to not only tour the forest, but talk to him in detail about the issues themselves."

AAP pj/sjb/sp

KEYWORD: LATHAM BROWN

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.