Robin Mosman
For the Management Committee, Blue Mountains Conservation Society

We have heard that Bob Debus read the Film Approvals Bill to Parliament on Wednesday. From there it will go to a second reading after which there will be the opportunity for responses from the Opposition and Independents. It then goes through the same process in the Upper House, after which amendments are discussed and voted on. Then it goes back to the Lower House for a third reading with amendments, and is passed. This whole process can be quite fast, or could take from 3 to 4 weeks.

We understand the second reading and debate in the Lower House will be next week, perhaps on Friday. We will keep you posted in case anyone is able to attend - it would be impressive to have a good crowd there, though unfortunately you can't have banners!

At present the Management Committee are working with Keith Muir and legal advisers on how to interpret the proposed Bill. Main concerns with it at first impression are that, in spite of Bob Carr's assertions that filming won't be allowed in Wilderness, it does allow commercial filming in Wilderness for scientific, research (probably OK) and (most worrying) tourism purposes, and that this Bill may override the National Parks and Wildlife Act and the Wilderness Act and in that way weaken environmental protection. The tourism is a worry because 'Stealth' was justified in the Review of Environmental Factors as promoting tourism, amongst other things. It seems at the moment to be too wide a net.

Please keep up the pressure with letters to newspapers.Very importantly, please keep up the pressure on Bob Debus and Bob Carr by saying these things to them too.

Bob Carr Ph 9228 5239 Fax 9228 3935

Bob Debus Ph 9228 3071 Fax 9228 3166 Local office is 47513298

John Brogden Ph 9230 2270 Fax 9221 8208

Shadow Environment Minister Michael Richardson Ph 9230 2728 Fax 9230 3352

Letters to all of them at Parliament House, Sydney.

Remember, they don't expect you to be an expert - all you need to do is show that this is an issue that you care a lot about.