❓ A parliamentary question addresses the cost, justification, and WA Forest Alliance involvement in a new community forest inspection program. The Minister defends the program as a response to logging practice complaints and emphasizes on-site issue resolution.
AnsweredQoN 520Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minister’s media statement of 18 February 2003 announcing a new community forest inspection program. (1) What is the likely cost to taxpayers for a typical forest inspection recognising that each inspection must be planned and carried out, and a written report prepared for distribution to each participant? (2) Why is a representative of the political lobby group WA Forest Alliance a member of each inspection and why must a WAFA member be present even when a community group requesting an inspection asks that a WAFA representative not attend? (3) Why has the minister introduced this program when there has been no clamour from the community for such inspections, other than from a very small number of politically motivated, anti-logging individuals and groups? Dr J.M. EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
(1) What is the likely cost to taxpayers for a typical forest inspection recognising that each inspection must be planned and carried out, and a written report prepared for distribution to each participant? (2) Why is a representative of the political lobby group WA Forest Alliance a member of each inspection and why must a WAFA member be present even when a community group requesting an inspection asks that a WAFA representative not attend? (3) Why has the minister introduced this program when there has been no clamour from the community for such inspections, other than from a very small number of politically motivated, anti-logging individuals and groups? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
(2) Why is a representative of the political lobby group WA Forest Alliance a member of each inspection and why must a WAFA member be present even when a community group requesting an inspection asks that a WAFA representative not attend? (3) Why has the minister introduced this program when there has been no clamour from the community for such inspections, other than from a very small number of politically motivated, anti-logging individuals and groups? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
(3) Why has the minister introduced this program when there has been no clamour from the community for such inspections, other than from a very small number of politically motivated, anti-logging individuals and groups? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
(1) What is the likely cost to taxpayers for a typical forest inspection recognising that each inspection must be planned and carried out, and a written report prepared for distribution to each participant? (2) Why is a representative of the political lobby group WA Forest Alliance a member of each inspection and why must a WAFA member be present even when a community group requesting an inspection asks that a WAFA representative not attend? (3) Why has the minister introduced this program when there has been no clamour from the community for such inspections, other than from a very small number of politically motivated, anti-logging individuals and groups? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
(2) Why is a representative of the political lobby group WA Forest Alliance a member of each inspection and why must a WAFA member be present even when a community group requesting an inspection asks that a WAFA representative not attend? (3) Why has the minister introduced this program when there has been no clamour from the community for such inspections, other than from a very small number of politically motivated, anti-logging individuals and groups? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
(3) Why has the minister introduced this program when there has been no clamour from the community for such inspections, other than from a very small number of politically motivated, anti-logging individuals and groups? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The inspections have been introduced in response to complaints about some logging practices in this State. One of the difficulties I have is that by the time a reply to a complaint crosses my desk, some time has transpired since the event that caused the complaint. One reason for the community inspections is to have people who are likely to complain enter a coupe soon after it has been logged and identify issues brought to us as concerns. Such people will enter the coupes under supervision. For example, concerns have been expressed about logging in areas that should otherwise be buffers, angles used in landings, and the placement of logs and possible subsequent erosion. Complaints can be examined immediately by having a representative of the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the Forest Products Commission and the Conservation Commission of Western Australia - if available - on-site with WAFA and local community conservation representatives. There will be an educative component to what is being looked at; an issue can be readily explained to people. The members for Vasse and Warren-Blackwood asked why people such as contractors are not included. The reality is that no such people have ever complained to me about the nature of the work carried out. I make no apology for putting forward community audits and having people present so we can address issues at the source.
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