Great Koala National Park promise struck by conflict of interest claims

The NSW Government has been urged to halt its review into koala protection on the north coast, following allegations the independence of the report is in question.

Timber industry bosses have demanded the state government pause their review into koala protection on the north coast to investigate claims consultants preparing a key report are conflicted.

The explosive allegations are connected to the creation of a Great Koala National Park (GKNP) and the appointment of a firm to deliver an assessment of its economic impacts.

Industry figures and unions claim the independence of the report must be in question after discovering the company, Mandala Partners, was also advising an anti-logging organisation.

The native forestry sector are concerned any recommendations that minimise areas available for logging within the GKNP and downplay the potential fallout, could trigger a disaster.

Around 5000 jobs are tied to the timber industry in the region.

Nationals MP Michael Kemp, whose Oxley electorate covers areas under consideration for the 176,000-hectare GKNP, raised the issue recently under parliamentary privilege.

Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp MP raised the issue recently under parliamentary privilege. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

“While evaluating the park, Mandala Partners was simultaneously working on a project commissioned by the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation (ACBF) to promote forest carbon projects aimed at shutting down the native forest industry,” he told parliament.

The Australian Workers’ Union NSW division and the CFMEU’s manufacturing division have also written to MPs in recent days.

They have expressed concerns over the firm being paid by both the NSW government and a climate group against native forestry.

The letter, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, reads in part: “The payment of this consulting firm by both the Department and an organisation with a clear political agenda on the same topic raises serious concerns about the impartiality of any final report.”

National Parks and Wildlife Service are leading the GKNP process on behalf of the government with a final submission to Cabinet imminent.

There are concerns the review’s independence has been compramised.

James Jooste, CEO of the NSW branch of the Australian Forest Products Association, said: “We agreed to collaborate in the stakeholder process and be part of an economic and social assessment.

“We were never advised about the work the consultants dealing with us were doing with the ACBF.

“Had we known that, we would never have shared sensitive information or engaged with them. We would have requested the appointment of another consultant.”

Prominent Greens Christine Milne and Dawn Walker supporting the Great Koala National Park at a Bellingen rally.

Mandala managing partner Amit Singh said strict protocols to avoid a conflict of interest were taken.

“Mandala secured a contract of work for the NSW Government through the normal procurement process. All government procurement is subject to strict conflict of interest checks,” Mr Singh said.

“Even though no conflict existed, Mandala still disclosed its proposed project with the ACBF to the NSW Government before any contracts were signed or any work commenced in the interests of full transparency.

“We take our integrity incredibly seriously. We hold ourselves to the highest standards and those standards have been upheld.”

But NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said the allegations raised by the AWU “are extremely serious and throw the entire GKNP process into disarray”.

“Engaging an agency with a clear conflict of interest tells me one thing – that the Government was seeking a political outcome here, rather than an environmental one,” he said.

“The government needs to release all correspondence relating to Mandala partners and the consultation process.”

A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said: “The NSW Government expects all potential conflicts of interest to be managed appropriately.”