❓ Hon Christine Sharp asks about the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) and its implications for forestry practices, particularly concerning old-growth forests. Hon Kim Chance provides a general response, referring to Standards Australia and the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards for detailed information.
AnsweredQoN 333Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recently launched Australian Forestry Standard. (1) Who decides whether a company or product receives an AFS certification label? (2) By what process is an AFS certification application assessed? (3) Can only timber products receive AFS certification or can companies and government agencies also receive AFS certification? (4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(1) Who decides whether a company or product receives an AFS certification label? (2) By what process is an AFS certification application assessed? (3) Can only timber products receive AFS certification or can companies and government agencies also receive AFS certification? (4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(2) By what process is an AFS certification application assessed? (3) Can only timber products receive AFS certification or can companies and government agencies also receive AFS certification? (4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(3) Can only timber products receive AFS certification or can companies and government agencies also receive AFS certification? (4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed.
(1) Who decides whether a company or product receives an AFS certification label? (2) By what process is an AFS certification application assessed? (3) Can only timber products receive AFS certification or can companies and government agencies also receive AFS certification? (4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(2) By what process is an AFS certification application assessed? (3) Can only timber products receive AFS certification or can companies and government agencies also receive AFS certification? (4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(3) Can only timber products receive AFS certification or can companies and government agencies also receive AFS certification? (4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(4) Will companies involved in or products produced from logging of old-growth forests or the clearing of rainforests anywhere in Australia be eligible for AFS certification? (5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(5) Will any logging operations, regional forest agreements or forest plans anywhere in Australia be significantly changed as a result of the introduction or awarding of AFS certification? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
(1)-(5) The development of the Australian Forestry Standard was undertaken by a technical reference committee under processes controlled by Standards Australia. Full details about the operation of the standard are available from the Steering Committee for Australian Forestry Standards and are summarised in material released at the time of the launch. With this answer, I will table information made available by the steering committee at the time of the launch. The Standards Australia process requires independent certification by accredited certification bodies similar to the processes used to accredit achievement of any standards in forestry or any other industry in Australia. Any forest grower can seek accreditation of his forest management against the standard. The standard applies to all forest types and does not usurp the role of local policy or legislation. In Western Australia, government policy and the statutory management plan dictate that no old-growth trees shall be harvested in public forests. The Australian Forestry Standard will help agencies certify that they are meeting those standards. As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed. [See paper No 439.]
As I indicated, I will table the information on the question of standards and their application to forestry, which I recommend members read. We need to talk about the question of standards in forestry and the way in which they will be applied, because some assumptions have been made about the application of those standards. I am a strong supporter of a form of externally auditable standards. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that we do that. All who have an interest in forestry, from whichever side of the Parliament, need to engage in some discussion and reach a better understanding of what we are all seeking to achieve, because I do not think that there is an enormous difference. However, some misinformation exists. From time to time opinions that have been influenced by that misinformation will be expressed.
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