❓ A parliamentary question regarding timber sourcing for a mine near Kalgoorlie raises concerns about price disparities, service quality, job losses due to forest policy, and the use of marri timber. The Minister refutes the initial claims, defends the government's forest policy, and highlights the potential for job creation through value-adding.
AnsweredQoN 1165Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINING, TIMBER GUIDE RAILS
In its new mine shaft, a mine near Kalgoorlie required timber to be used for guide rails. Traditionally, karri has been used for this purpose. The company tried to source karri from Bunnings Building Supplies in WA. Bunnings told the company that if it could acquire the timber, delivery time would be between two to three months. It quoted $165 for the delivery of each piece of timber. The company could not wait that long and sourced messmate from Victoria. The timber was available immediately and quoted at $50 for each piece delivered. (1) How can there be such a big disparity in price and quality of service? (2) Is the situation likely to get worse as the Government’s forest policy forces companies to source more timber from the eastern States? (3) What value does the Government see in exporting Western Australian jobs to Victoria? (4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE
In its new mine shaft, a mine near Kalgoorlie required timber to be used for guide rails. Traditionally, karri has been used for this purpose. The company tried to source karri from Bunnings Building Supplies in WA. Bunnings told the company that if it could acquire the timber, delivery time would be between two to three months. It quoted $165 for the delivery of each piece of timber. The company could not wait that long and sourced messmate from Victoria. The timber was available immediately and quoted at $50 for each piece delivered. (1) How can there be such a big disparity in price and quality of service? (2) Is the situation likely to get worse as the Government’s forest policy forces companies to source more timber from the eastern States? (3) What value does the Government see in exporting Western Australian jobs to Victoria? (4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(1) How can there be such a big disparity in price and quality of service? (2) Is the situation likely to get worse as the Government’s forest policy forces companies to source more timber from the eastern States? (3) What value does the Government see in exporting Western Australian jobs to Victoria? (4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(2) Is the situation likely to get worse as the Government’s forest policy forces companies to source more timber from the eastern States? (3) What value does the Government see in exporting Western Australian jobs to Victoria? (4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(3) What value does the Government see in exporting Western Australian jobs to Victoria? (4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(1) How can there be such a big disparity in price and quality of service? (2) Is the situation likely to get worse as the Government’s forest policy forces companies to source more timber from the eastern States? (3) What value does the Government see in exporting Western Australian jobs to Victoria? (4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(2) Is the situation likely to get worse as the Government’s forest policy forces companies to source more timber from the eastern States? (3) What value does the Government see in exporting Western Australian jobs to Victoria? (4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(3) What value does the Government see in exporting Western Australian jobs to Victoria? (4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(4) How is it that the Greens (WA) have been able to close down the timber industry in Western Australia but not in the eastern States? (5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(5) The red gum or marri is the weed of the forest and grows quickly at the expense of other trees. Has the Government thought about harvesting this tree for use in the building trade as frames which are not load bearing? (6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(6) The closure of the Western Australian timber industry has caused great hardship to workers and their families. The Government’s figures of the number of jobs that will be lost vary considerably from those put out by the industry and the unions. Is the minister able to justify those discrepancies and tell me who is in the better position to assess the losses accurately? The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
The PRESIDENT: I am sure the minister can appropriately deal with a range of opinions. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Before answering the question, I will comment briefly on the member’s introductory information, which at face value is disturbing. The honourable member might need to reassess the quality of his source of the information on that basis. I have assumed that the timber referred to in the question is green sawn karri of the nominal size of six metres by 100 millimetres by 75 millimetres. The price cited by the member of $165 a piece would equate to over $3 500 a cubic metre, whereas the market price is $800 a cubic metre. A phone call to the Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd Bibra Lake store this morning indicated that karri of these dimensions is a stock item that is immediately available at a price of $6.81 a lineal metre, or $40.86 for a six-metre length. Although it is possible that large orders may result in delivery delays, the price referred to by the member is not indicative of either the basic timber price or availability. We called that same Bunnings hardware store this afternoon and were informed that not only had the price dropped since this morning but also a new shipment had just arrived from the south west. (1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(1)-(3) The Government’s forest policies are committed to reserving old-growth forest under a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system in the native forest while optimising the value-adding and downstream manufacturing sectors within a restructured Western Australian forest products industry that can maximise job opportunities from the resource available. This may change the end usage and prices of unique native timbers; however, the Government believes this is appropriate. (4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(4) The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable forest products industry in Western Australia. Far from closing down, the timber industry in Western Australia faces a positive and sustainable future. Significant restructuring of the native forest industry has also either occurred or commenced in several eastern States. I would like to think that the honourable member supports the concept of value-adding industries in his electorate. (5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(5) Marri is a valuable component of the forest ecosystem and silvicultural practices are in place to ensure that the mix of tree species in the forest ecosystem is maintained and regarded by the furniture industry as highly valued timber. The Government is committed to ensuring that the supply of marri sawlogs continues to be available to the forest products industry. A range of solid wood products is available from the sawmilling process. It is up to individual companies to decide the manner in which they market timber products processed from the marri sawlogs purchased from the Forest Products Commission. No contract between the FPC and private companies stipulates the production of a specific type of sawn timber, and such a restriction is neither appropriate nor desired by the industry. (6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
(6) No independent organisation compiles data of this detail on the native timber industry in Western Australia. The figures cited by the Government were based on the best information available about the businesses likely to be affected by restructuring. It is not the Government’s intention to make comment on the relative accuracy of alternative figures used by industry or unions, except to say that different figures would be arrived at if direct job losses were multiplied by a factor to account for indirect losses. The commonality of both figures is that they are gross figures that do not take account of the significant number of new jobs that will be created by value adding and from plantation timber harvesting and processing. Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
Finally, the honourable member would be aware that the Albany woodchip plant was opened the other day by the Premier.
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