Dr. Thomas questions the Minister for Forestry regarding statements made about sawlog delivery obligations after the native forest logging ban and the disclosure of sawmill payment recipient information. The Minister defends their statements and denies disclosing confidential information.

AnsweredQoN 920Legislative Council
Asked
29 August 2023
Portfolio
Forestry

QuestionView source ↗

FORESTRY — SAWLOG DELIVERY DEEDS OF AGREEMENT
920. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the deed of agreement
signed by sawmills and harvest and haulage contractors that provides that the
business payment may be used to support the recipient of the payment to
transition. I also refer to the definition of ''transition'',
which specifically recognises that the recipient of the payment may elect to
keep their production contract on foot in parallel to either transitioning or
exiting the industry.
(1) On what basis
does the minister allege that the deed of agreement removed contractual
obligations for sawlog deliveries, as reported in the media?
(2) Did the
minister obtain written consent from the other parties, being each and every
sawmill payment recipient, before making this disclosure?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
member for some notice of the question.
(1) Following the
historic decision to end native forest logging, the Cook Labor government
committed to an $80 million native forest transition plan that included
industry restructure payments of more than $22 million to 24 individual
businesses, including sawmills. All statements I have provided to the media are
factually correct.
(2) No
confidential information has been disclosed.

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