❓ Mr. Redman questions the Minister for Forestry's decision to temporarily halt harvesting in two-tier karri forests, alleging a breach of the Forest Management Plan and lack of industry consultation. The Minister defends the decision, citing positive developments in the timber industry and FPC advice.
AnsweredQoN 113Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FOREST PRODUCTS
COMMISSION — TWO-TIER KARRI FORESTS — HARVESTING
113. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the minister's
decision to temporarily cut two-tier mature forest coupes from the 2020 harvest
plan.
(1) Why has the minister departed from the established
''Forest Management Plan 2014–2023'' review process and broken his contract with industry?
(2) What consultation did the
minister have with industry on this matter, and what was industry's
view?
COMMISSION — TWO-TIER KARRI FORESTS — HARVESTING
113. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the minister's
decision to temporarily cut two-tier mature forest coupes from the 2020 harvest
plan.
(1) Why has the minister departed from the established
''Forest Management Plan 2014–2023'' review process and broken his contract with industry?
(2) What consultation did the
minister have with industry on this matter, and what was industry's
view?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(2) I
thought that the member would be pretty happy about some of the developments in
the timber industry lately. If he had been paying attention, and I hope he has
been, the Parkside Group, a Queensland company, has bought two very significant
mills here in Western Australia—Nannup Timber Processing and Auswest
Timbers. Both mills were struggling. Parkside has come to WA and it has begun
to invest in both those mills. I am told that it has significantly increased
employment at both those mills. It is planning to revitalise or reopen a number
of other facilities. The arrival of that company indicates that the timber
industry in WA has a very bright future.
One of the owners of Parkside said to
me that the way the state government runs the Forest Products Commission should
be the model for other states around Australia. If the member for Warren–Blackwood
were interested in the future of the timber industry in WA, I would have
thought he would be very happy about the direction things are moving.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
Mr D.J. KELLY : The advice
that FPC gave me last week about the status of two-tier karri forests is that
there is no need to harvest in those areas. Under the forest management plan,
the required timber volumes can be sourced without any harvesting being
required.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just wait.
Mr D.J. KELLY : As the member
knows, FPC puts out a harvest plan each year. FPC has advised that for 2020, it
does not need to harvest in those areas; it can meet customer demand without
harvesting any of those coupes. There has only been a decision by FPC to make
that change for this year. It is not, as the member characterised it, a breach
of the contract with industry. The forest management plan runs until 2023. The
decision that FPC has made is within the confines of and consistent with that
forest management plan.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, you have got a supplementary.
Mr D.J. KELLY : It is only a decision
for 12 months. Any future decision will be made in the usual timetable for next
year's harvest plan. The member should be very happy and he should not
be talking down the timber industry.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I am sure the minister is getting near the end.
Mr D.J. KELLY : When the
member was the forestry minister, and some of his mates on the other side,
there was nothing but mill closures. There was a significant decline in the
softwood plantation. The member did nothing about it. There was no good news in
eight and a half years. The first good news in this industry has come from this
government, so he should not talk down the industry.
(1)–(2) I
thought that the member would be pretty happy about some of the developments in
the timber industry lately. If he had been paying attention, and I hope he has
been, the Parkside Group, a Queensland company, has bought two very significant
mills here in Western Australia—Nannup Timber Processing and Auswest
Timbers. Both mills were struggling. Parkside has come to WA and it has begun
to invest in both those mills. I am told that it has significantly increased
employment at both those mills. It is planning to revitalise or reopen a number
of other facilities. The arrival of that company indicates that the timber
industry in WA has a very bright future.
One of the owners of Parkside said to
me that the way the state government runs the Forest Products Commission should
be the model for other states around Australia. If the member for Warren–Blackwood
were interested in the future of the timber industry in WA, I would have
thought he would be very happy about the direction things are moving.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, please!
Mr D.J. KELLY : The advice
that FPC gave me last week about the status of two-tier karri forests is that
there is no need to harvest in those areas. Under the forest management plan,
the required timber volumes can be sourced without any harvesting being
required.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just wait.
Mr D.J. KELLY : As the member
knows, FPC puts out a harvest plan each year. FPC has advised that for 2020, it
does not need to harvest in those areas; it can meet customer demand without
harvesting any of those coupes. There has only been a decision by FPC to make
that change for this year. It is not, as the member characterised it, a breach
of the contract with industry. The forest management plan runs until 2023. The
decision that FPC has made is within the confines of and consistent with that
forest management plan.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, you have got a supplementary.
Mr D.J. KELLY : It is only a decision
for 12 months. Any future decision will be made in the usual timetable for next
year's harvest plan. The member should be very happy and he should not
be talking down the timber industry.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I am sure the minister is getting near the end.
Mr D.J. KELLY : When the
member was the forestry minister, and some of his mates on the other side,
there was nothing but mill closures. There was a significant decline in the
softwood plantation. The member did nothing about it. There was no good news in
eight and a half years. The first good news in this industry has come from this
government, so he should not talk down the industry.
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