❓ Hon. Christine Sharp raises concerns about timber supply for fine furniture makers. Hon. Kim Chance responds, detailing meetings with stakeholders and plans for timber allocation through the Forest Products Commission, including contestable contracts and auctions.
AnsweredQoN 423Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the problems that have arisen this year with the supply of suitable timber for the use of the fine furniture makers of this State. (1) Has the minister met with stakeholders from this sector to resolve the problem? (2) If yes, how does the minister intend to ensure the supply of a suitable timber allocation to this very important value-adding sector, given that all the high-grade timber has been allocated to others? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
(1) Has the minister met with stakeholders from this sector to resolve the problem? (2) If yes, how does the minister intend to ensure the supply of a suitable timber allocation to this very important value-adding sector, given that all the high-grade timber has been allocated to others? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
(2) If yes, how does the minister intend to ensure the supply of a suitable timber allocation to this very important value-adding sector, given that all the high-grade timber has been allocated to others? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
(1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
(1) Has the minister met with stakeholders from this sector to resolve the problem? (2) If yes, how does the minister intend to ensure the supply of a suitable timber allocation to this very important value-adding sector, given that all the high-grade timber has been allocated to others? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
(2) If yes, how does the minister intend to ensure the supply of a suitable timber allocation to this very important value-adding sector, given that all the high-grade timber has been allocated to others? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
I thank Hon Chrissy Sharp for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
(1)-(2) Yes, I have met stakeholders. Most recently I met Mr Gary Bennett from Jah-Roc Furniture, I think last week, and Mr John Tough a day or two before that. I have a reasonably good understanding of the issues that they brought to me. Importantly, both those persons - certainly Gary Bennett - met me within a day or two of a meeting they had with the Forest Products Commission, or in Mr Bennett’s case probably on the same day. By the time they met me and had an understanding of what the FPC was planning, they were much more relaxed about the position. A view that one or more members of the industry may have expressed as recently as three weeks ago may well be different now, as they have come to a better understanding about what is being planned. There is no criticism from me in that regard. Indeed, there is a very good reason that people would have altered their view. It is because the FPC is still in the process of determining how these decisions will be made. I may be able to better inform the House, although I would rather have a formal statement in which to do that. That goes to the second part of the member’s question on how we intend to supply specialist manufacturers and the craft industry more generally. Yesterday, in a telephone call, Dr Paul Biggs, General Manager of the FPC, briefed me, and I later received written confirmation, on the process for identifying in the first instance that part of the material in which the sector the member referred to is interested. Some 8 450 tonnes - not cubic metres - of varying grades of material have been identified, which will be available to the sector. After question time I can give the honourable member more detail, but I will generalise and say that in the main about 80 per cent of those 8 450 tonnes will be available on a contestable-contract basis. That is similar to what we have provided for in the high-grade feature jarrah, of which 250 tonnes - 200 cubic metres - will be available through four contracts of different sizes. That is the basic template for the availability of the other material. The remaining 20 per cent will be disposed of through another means, which is likely to be option based. It is important that some of this material continue to be available to the general public through auction. I concede that we have less control over the end use of that part of the resource. I will happily go through this process privately with the member or any other member; however, the volume that will be available to the sector is 8 450 tonnes.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.