❓ Hon Diane Evers questions the Minister for Forestry regarding native timber exports, specifically concerning Parkside Timber's purchase of Auswest Timbers' mills and previous breaches by Nannup Timber Processing. The Minister responds, outlining actions taken to prevent future breaches and providing details on related investigations and contracts.
AnsweredQoN 248Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FORESTRY — NATIVE
TIMBER EXPORTS
248. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the minister's
media release of 3 December 2019, which states that Parkside Timber, a Queensland-based
company, has purchased Auswest Timbers' Greenbushes mill and Nannup
Timber Processing.
(1) Has Parkside
been awarded the same contract that was stripped off Nannup Timber Processing
for breaching conditions by exporting unprocessed WA marri logs; and, if yes,
what changes have been made to conditions?
(2) What is the
government doing to ensure that breaches of the export of unprocessed native
timber do not occur again?
(3) Has the
independent investigation into jarrah exports been completed; and, if yes, what
was the result and will the minister please table the report; and, if no, why
not, and when will the report be completed?
(4) Does the
Forest Products Commission have any contracts for the provision of timber
beyond 2023; and, if yes, please table details of those contracts?
TIMBER EXPORTS
248. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the minister's
media release of 3 December 2019, which states that Parkside Timber, a Queensland-based
company, has purchased Auswest Timbers' Greenbushes mill and Nannup
Timber Processing.
(1) Has Parkside
been awarded the same contract that was stripped off Nannup Timber Processing
for breaching conditions by exporting unprocessed WA marri logs; and, if yes,
what changes have been made to conditions?
(2) What is the
government doing to ensure that breaches of the export of unprocessed native
timber do not occur again?
(3) Has the
independent investigation into jarrah exports been completed; and, if yes, what
was the result and will the minister please table the report; and, if no, why
not, and when will the report be completed?
(4) Does the
Forest Products Commission have any contracts for the provision of timber
beyond 2023; and, if yes, please table details of those contracts?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for
Forestry, I provide the following answer.
(1) No, the contract was terminated
prior to the purchase by Parkside Timber.
(2) The Forest Products Commission has written to all
its customers to remind them of their current contractual conditions. In
addition, I have asked the FPC to strengthen its contractual conditions for
future supply contracts to include the ability to terminate all concurrent
contracts with the FPC if breach of one contract occurs. The FPC is also
investigating the scope of damages that may be claimed in the event of a breach
of contract. The FPC is investigating with the Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions the possibility of imposing future statutory penalties
for this type of default.
(3) Yes. The
findings of the investigation were inconclusive due to the noncooperation of
Nannup Timber Processing, resulting in
insufficient evidence. In addition, I have asked the FPC to strengthen its
contractual conditions for future supply contracts. The report contains
sensitive commercial information and, as such, it has been redacted. I table a copy
of the report.
[See paper 3695 .]
(4) No. The FPC cannot enter into native forest
production contracts beyond the term of the forest management plan 2014–2023.
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for
Forestry, I provide the following answer.
(1) No, the contract was terminated
prior to the purchase by Parkside Timber.
(2) The Forest Products Commission has written to all
its customers to remind them of their current contractual conditions. In
addition, I have asked the FPC to strengthen its contractual conditions for
future supply contracts to include the ability to terminate all concurrent
contracts with the FPC if breach of one contract occurs. The FPC is also
investigating the scope of damages that may be claimed in the event of a breach
of contract. The FPC is investigating with the Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions the possibility of imposing future statutory penalties
for this type of default.
(3) Yes. The
findings of the investigation were inconclusive due to the noncooperation of
Nannup Timber Processing, resulting in
insufficient evidence. In addition, I have asked the FPC to strengthen its
contractual conditions for future supply contracts. The report contains
sensitive commercial information and, as such, it has been redacted. I table a copy
of the report.
[See paper 3695 .]
(4) No. The FPC cannot enter into native forest
production contracts beyond the term of the forest management plan 2014–2023.
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