❓ Hon. Louise Kingston questions the Forest Products Commission's continued certification under AS/NZD 4708 for native forest logging despite the government's stance on its unsustainability and potential conflict of interest of the FPC general manager. The Minister's response indicates a review is pending.
AnsweredQoN 1137Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FOREST PRODUCTS COMMISSION — NATIVE FOREST
LOGGING — CERTIFICATION
1137. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the Minister for Forestry:
For
many years, timber harvesting operations in WA's forests have been
certified under Responsible Wood's standard for sustainable forest management AS/NZD 4708. In
2021, the government stated that native forest timber harvesting was not
sustainable. The Forest Products Commission has, however, maintained
certification to this standard, and has been assessed as compliant on three
occasions since the Premier's announcement.
(1) Why did the
Forest Products Commission not hand back the certificates of certification to
AS/NZD 4708 on 8 September 2021 when the government stated that timber
harvesting was no longer sustainable?
(2) Why has the
FPC maintained certification of its native forest operations under AS/NZD 4708
until 2025 if it is contrary to government policy?
(3) Does Stuart
West, the general manager of the FPC, have a conflict of interest in also being
a board member of Responsible Wood?
(4) Will the
minister ask Mr West to withdraw from his position on the board of Responsible
Wood to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest?
LOGGING — CERTIFICATION
1137. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the Minister for Forestry:
For
many years, timber harvesting operations in WA's forests have been
certified under Responsible Wood's standard for sustainable forest management AS/NZD 4708. In
2021, the government stated that native forest timber harvesting was not
sustainable. The Forest Products Commission has, however, maintained
certification to this standard, and has been assessed as compliant on three
occasions since the Premier's announcement.
(1) Why did the
Forest Products Commission not hand back the certificates of certification to
AS/NZD 4708 on 8 September 2021 when the government stated that timber
harvesting was no longer sustainable?
(2) Why has the
FPC maintained certification of its native forest operations under AS/NZD 4708
until 2025 if it is contrary to government policy?
(3) Does Stuart
West, the general manager of the FPC, have a conflict of interest in also being
a board member of Responsible Wood?
(4) Will the
minister ask Mr West to withdraw from his position on the board of Responsible
Wood to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Australian
Standard AS/NZS 4708 certification is required for pine plantations managed by
the Forest Products Commission.
(2) AS/NZS 4708
certification will be subject to review in late 2024. A decision in relation to
native forests will be made at that time.
(3)–(4) No.
The FPC has an effective mechanism to manage any perceived conflicts of
interest.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Australian
Standard AS/NZS 4708 certification is required for pine plantations managed by
the Forest Products Commission.
(2) AS/NZS 4708
certification will be subject to review in late 2024. A decision in relation to
native forests will be made at that time.
(3)–(4) No.
The FPC has an effective mechanism to manage any perceived conflicts of
interest.
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