Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor, whose vote is crucial to the fate of the legislation, has confirmed she supports a controversial amendment to limit the amount of reserves immediately created to 123,000 hectares nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage area in the South-West.

The amount is less than a third of the amount meant to be immediately protected under the proposed legislation. 

Huon MLC Paul Harriss will move an amendment delaying the protection of the remaining 272,000 hectares for another six months to test the durability of the agreement negotiated by environment and industry groups. 

Mrs Taylor said the idea would test the commitment of the environment groups to the agreement. 

Without the amendment, Mrs Taylor is expected to vote against the legislation taking the numbers against to seven, versus seven in favour. 

In the event of a tie, President Sue Smith will use her casting vote to throw the bill out. 

If the change to the timing of protecting reserves is accepted by the majority of MLCs, it is likely to tip the balance in favour of the legislation, but at the same time jeopardise environment groups. 

Signatories to the agreement and the state government have warned any significant changes to the legislation will destroy the deal. 

Rumney MLC Tony Mulder is also working on an amendment to break up the three stages of forest protection further and Mrs Taylor is also considering additional changes to specialty timber supplies. 

Discussion on amendments resumes today at 11am but the issue of reserves timing will be among the last to be dealt with. 

Some MLCs are also expected to take the unusual step of speaking again on the bill before the final vote is taken which is likely to push the vote back until Thursday.