“We will not have made everyone happy. There will be dissent, but they will get nowhere at this stage.

“I hope this decision will be the end of the rainforest argument.”

The executive secretary of the National Parks Association, Mr Peter Prineas, said Cabinet and Mr Wran had made the most important conservation decision of the Government.

“The Government is to be congratulated,” he said.

The chairman of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Mr Chris Pratten, said: “It has been a long, hard seven-year fight, but we are delighted with the final decision, especially as it will not result in any loss of jobs.”

The secretary of the Labor Council, Mr Barrie Unsworth, who has been a vocal leader in the fight to preserve timber industry jobs, said: “I don’t have full details yet, but in general terms this is disappointing.

“It certainly seems to be a great victory for the conservationists but we’ve got to see what is left in it for the workers and for the people of NSW who could well be denied a stable supply of timber in the future.”

The executive director of the NSW Forest Products Association, Mr Keith Jordan, said the decision was “a staggering blow.”

“It is quite obvious from the decision that the Wran-Government believes the industry only has a right to exist and to supply timber to the people of the State if the small, violent, vocal minority of preservationists gives its blessing,” he said.

The Leader of the State Opposition, Mr Dowd, said “No matter how the Government tries to dress up its decision it will be responsible for throwing workers out of jobs.”

Loading

The leader of the NSW National Party, Mr Punch, said: “Today marks the day the environmental lobby took over the Government of NSW.

“I hope those on the North Coast who advocated a vote for Labor at the last election are now proud of their part in the destruction of a vital industry.”