❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses allegations of government suppression of a timber recovery report and the wastage of 3rd grade logs. The Minister denies suppression and the accuracy of claims regarding timber recovery rates, while acknowledging the need for improved utilisation of unsaleable material.
AnsweredQoN 305Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) is it true that ‘The report of these trials is currently being suppressed by the Government’; (c) what report is Mr Robertson referring to and is he accurately quoting from it when he states that 33% sawn timber recoveries can be obtained from 3rd grade logs; and (d) does the Minister agree that the waste of 3rd grade logs that are left in the forest to be burnt over the past decade is a ‘massive rip-off of the forests and the public’ and that it ‘should be investigated by the office of the Auditor General’?
(c) what report is Mr Robertson referring to and is he accurately quoting from it when he states that 33% sawn timber recoveries can be obtained from 3rd grade logs; and (d) does the Minister agree that the waste of 3rd grade logs that are left in the forest to be burnt over the past decade is a ‘massive rip-off of the forests and the public’ and that it ‘should be investigated by the office of the Auditor General’?
(d) does the Minister agree that the waste of 3rd grade logs that are left in the forest to be burnt over the past decade is a ‘massive rip-off of the forests and the public’ and that it ‘should be investigated by the office of the Auditor General’?
Firstly, it is obvious from the letter that, to his knowledge, the Minister was the first to advise Mr Robertson about the trial. It also indicates that a copy of the relevant report was provided to the Western Australian Forest Alliance (WAFA) at that time, and that a full briefing on the issue by the FPC was offered to WAFA. This offer has not been taken up. However, these points together show that any claim that the report of this trial has ever been suppressed by the Government is baseless. The letter also spells out the very specific nature of the trial and the reasons why the results cannot be extended generally to third grade logs. Mr Robertson's statement that the trial showed recoveries of 33 per cent from third grade logs is not correct. (d) No. However, the Government believes that utilisation of currently unsaleable material can be improved and will continue to work towards that end.
(d) No. However, the Government believes that utilisation of currently unsaleable material can be improved and will continue to work towards that end.
(c) what report is Mr Robertson referring to and is he accurately quoting from it when he states that 33% sawn timber recoveries can be obtained from 3rd grade logs; and (d) does the Minister agree that the waste of 3rd grade logs that are left in the forest to be burnt over the past decade is a ‘massive rip-off of the forests and the public’ and that it ‘should be investigated by the office of the Auditor General’?
(d) does the Minister agree that the waste of 3rd grade logs that are left in the forest to be burnt over the past decade is a ‘massive rip-off of the forests and the public’ and that it ‘should be investigated by the office of the Auditor General’?
Firstly, it is obvious from the letter that, to his knowledge, the Minister was the first to advise Mr Robertson about the trial. It also indicates that a copy of the relevant report was provided to the Western Australian Forest Alliance (WAFA) at that time, and that a full briefing on the issue by the FPC was offered to WAFA. This offer has not been taken up. However, these points together show that any claim that the report of this trial has ever been suppressed by the Government is baseless. The letter also spells out the very specific nature of the trial and the reasons why the results cannot be extended generally to third grade logs. Mr Robertson's statement that the trial showed recoveries of 33 per cent from third grade logs is not correct. (d) No. However, the Government believes that utilisation of currently unsaleable material can be improved and will continue to work towards that end.
(d) No. However, the Government believes that utilisation of currently unsaleable material can be improved and will continue to work towards that end.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 November 2002
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
48 days
(a) - (c) I provide a letter about a Forest Products Commission (FPC) trial of bole sawlogs, sent by the Minister to Mr Robertson on 22 March 2002, that is central to the Member's question.
Firstly, it is obvious from the letter that, to his knowledge, the Minister was the first to advise Mr Robertson about the trial. It also indicates that a copy of the relevant report was provided to the Western Australian Forest Alliance (WAFA) at that time, and that a full briefing on the issue by the FPC was offered to WAFA. This offer has not been taken up. However, these points together show that any claim that the report of this trial has ever been suppressed by the Government is baseless. The letter also spells out the very specific nature of the trial and the reasons why the results cannot be extended generally to third grade logs. Mr Robertson's statement that the trial showed recoveries of 33 per cent from third grade logs is not correct.
(d) No. However, the Government believes that utilisation of currently unsaleable material can be improved and will continue to work towards that end.
Firstly, it is obvious from the letter that, to his knowledge, the Minister was the first to advise Mr Robertson about the trial. It also indicates that a copy of the relevant report was provided to the Western Australian Forest Alliance (WAFA) at that time, and that a full briefing on the issue by the FPC was offered to WAFA. This offer has not been taken up. However, these points together show that any claim that the report of this trial has ever been suppressed by the Government is baseless. The letter also spells out the very specific nature of the trial and the reasons why the results cannot be extended generally to third grade logs. Mr Robertson's statement that the trial showed recoveries of 33 per cent from third grade logs is not correct.
(d) No. However, the Government believes that utilisation of currently unsaleable material can be improved and will continue to work towards that end.
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