The Federal Opposition leader has indicated the retention of jobs will be a top priority when he visits Tasmania's old growth forests.

From ABC Online News

Federal Opposition leader Mark Latham has accepted an invitation from the Greens Senator Bob Brown to visit the forests for a first hand look.

Mr Latham says he agreed to see the old growth forests because be respects Senator Brown as an environmentalist.
However he says protecting forest industry jobs has to be considered.
"You just can't, from a social justice perspective... [put] people that are sometimes of mature age with their skill base, into the unemployment scrap heap. That's just not on," he said.