❓ The Minister disputes the claim that the state's largest pine mill is closing, highlighting its voluntary administration but continued operation. He acknowledges issues with pine log quality and offers further discussion, without committing to immediate reform.
AnsweredQoN 1394Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RADIATA PINE INDUSTRY, REFORM
Given that the Fortec government report of 1999 found that the state pine industry was not being managed to maximise benefits to this State, given that I discussed with the minister and Dr Paul Biggs from the Forest Products Commission last year the need to reform this sector, given that the state agreement Acts allow some flexibility with pine log royalties and supplies, and given the announcement yesterday that the State’s largest independent radiata sawmill will close with the loss of 32 jobs in Pemberton, will the minister agree to reform the state radiata industry; and, if not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE
Given that the Fortec government report of 1999 found that the state pine industry was not being managed to maximise benefits to this State, given that I discussed with the minister and Dr Paul Biggs from the Forest Products Commission last year the need to reform this sector, given that the state agreement Acts allow some flexibility with pine log royalties and supplies, and given the announcement yesterday that the State’s largest independent radiata sawmill will close with the loss of 32 jobs in Pemberton, will the minister agree to reform the state radiata industry; and, if not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I think the question is based on a false assumption that the State’s largest pine mill is about to close. No pine mill is about to close in Western Australia. I am aware of one pine mill under voluntary administration. My advice is that not only is the business continuing to operate but it is receiving new supplies of logs. The member raises an interesting issue, and not one to which it is possible for me to respond in any depth at this stage. Some of the issues that have been raised in the instance of the pine mill that the member has referred to are indicative of the variable quality of pine logs. The issue has been identified by that mill as a factor in its difficulties. I believe that the Forest Products Commission has been attempting to make clear the issue of the variable quality of pine logs. Some of the publicly and privately owned plantations have poor management. I understand that the member’s conclusion made long ago was that more could be made of the State’s pine resources than is currently made, and that there is a greater resource than the Government has indicated. I do not think those two conclusions follow each other. The Government is happy to continue discussing those issues with the member. However, this instance indicates the position that the Forest Products Commission was put in; that is, frequently the quality that we think is there is not there.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I think the question is based on a false assumption that the State’s largest pine mill is about to close. No pine mill is about to close in Western Australia. I am aware of one pine mill under voluntary administration. My advice is that not only is the business continuing to operate but it is receiving new supplies of logs. The member raises an interesting issue, and not one to which it is possible for me to respond in any depth at this stage. Some of the issues that have been raised in the instance of the pine mill that the member has referred to are indicative of the variable quality of pine logs. The issue has been identified by that mill as a factor in its difficulties. I believe that the Forest Products Commission has been attempting to make clear the issue of the variable quality of pine logs. Some of the publicly and privately owned plantations have poor management. I understand that the member’s conclusion made long ago was that more could be made of the State’s pine resources than is currently made, and that there is a greater resource than the Government has indicated. I do not think those two conclusions follow each other. The Government is happy to continue discussing those issues with the member. However, this instance indicates the position that the Forest Products Commission was put in; that is, frequently the quality that we think is there is not there.
I think the question is based on a false assumption that the State’s largest pine mill is about to close. No pine mill is about to close in Western Australia. I am aware of one pine mill under voluntary administration. My advice is that not only is the business continuing to operate but it is receiving new supplies of logs. The member raises an interesting issue, and not one to which it is possible for me to respond in any depth at this stage. Some of the issues that have been raised in the instance of the pine mill that the member has referred to are indicative of the variable quality of pine logs. The issue has been identified by that mill as a factor in its difficulties. I believe that the Forest Products Commission has been attempting to make clear the issue of the variable quality of pine logs. Some of the publicly and privately owned plantations have poor management. I understand that the member’s conclusion made long ago was that more could be made of the State’s pine resources than is currently made, and that there is a greater resource than the Government has indicated. I do not think those two conclusions follow each other. The Government is happy to continue discussing those issues with the member. However, this instance indicates the position that the Forest Products Commission was put in; that is, frequently the quality that we think is there is not there.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I think the question is based on a false assumption that the State’s largest pine mill is about to close. No pine mill is about to close in Western Australia. I am aware of one pine mill under voluntary administration. My advice is that not only is the business continuing to operate but it is receiving new supplies of logs. The member raises an interesting issue, and not one to which it is possible for me to respond in any depth at this stage. Some of the issues that have been raised in the instance of the pine mill that the member has referred to are indicative of the variable quality of pine logs. The issue has been identified by that mill as a factor in its difficulties. I believe that the Forest Products Commission has been attempting to make clear the issue of the variable quality of pine logs. Some of the publicly and privately owned plantations have poor management. I understand that the member’s conclusion made long ago was that more could be made of the State’s pine resources than is currently made, and that there is a greater resource than the Government has indicated. I do not think those two conclusions follow each other. The Government is happy to continue discussing those issues with the member. However, this instance indicates the position that the Forest Products Commission was put in; that is, frequently the quality that we think is there is not there.
I think the question is based on a false assumption that the State’s largest pine mill is about to close. No pine mill is about to close in Western Australia. I am aware of one pine mill under voluntary administration. My advice is that not only is the business continuing to operate but it is receiving new supplies of logs. The member raises an interesting issue, and not one to which it is possible for me to respond in any depth at this stage. Some of the issues that have been raised in the instance of the pine mill that the member has referred to are indicative of the variable quality of pine logs. The issue has been identified by that mill as a factor in its difficulties. I believe that the Forest Products Commission has been attempting to make clear the issue of the variable quality of pine logs. Some of the publicly and privately owned plantations have poor management. I understand that the member’s conclusion made long ago was that more could be made of the State’s pine resources than is currently made, and that there is a greater resource than the Government has indicated. I do not think those two conclusions follow each other. The Government is happy to continue discussing those issues with the member. However, this instance indicates the position that the Forest Products Commission was put in; that is, frequently the quality that we think is there is not there.
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