❓ A parliamentary question probes the Minister for Forestry and Fisheries regarding timber allocations to Sotico Pty Ltd and the fairness of future log allocation processes for all timber millers in Western Australia.
AnsweredQoN 195Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Has the minister come to any understanding, either formally or informally, with Sotico Pty Ltd regarding the level of its long-term timber allocation? (2) Has the minister given an indication that Sotico will receive - (a) 70 000 cubic metres of first-grade jarrah; and (b) sufficient third-grade jarrah to supply the needs of Sotico’s Collie mill? (3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
(1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(2) Has the minister given an indication that Sotico will receive - (a) 70 000 cubic metres of first-grade jarrah; and (b) sufficient third-grade jarrah to supply the needs of Sotico’s Collie mill? (3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(a) 70 000 cubic metres of first-grade jarrah; and (b) sufficient third-grade jarrah to supply the needs of Sotico’s Collie mill? (3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(b) sufficient third-grade jarrah to supply the needs of Sotico’s Collie mill? (3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(2) Has the minister given an indication that Sotico will receive - (a) 70 000 cubic metres of first-grade jarrah; and (b) sufficient third-grade jarrah to supply the needs of Sotico’s Collie mill? (3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(a) 70 000 cubic metres of first-grade jarrah; and (b) sufficient third-grade jarrah to supply the needs of Sotico’s Collie mill? (3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(b) sufficient third-grade jarrah to supply the needs of Sotico’s Collie mill? (3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(3) What form of transparent and equitable process can the minister spell out in order to guarantee that all timber millers, including the small to medium sized ones, will be fairly dealt with in the allocation of future logs? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(1) No. (2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(2) No - although I have to say, in respect of part (b), that I have commented on Sotico’s request. People may have taken that as an indication, but I have certainly commented on that request. (3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
(3) The Government will be seeking to supply timber mills that will best contribute to an industry of high-value production, high employment in Western Australia and maximum utilisation in the forest and in the mill and all stages in the supply chain. Innovation and fresh ideas will be particularly important. Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
Strong alliances will need to be made with locally manufactured furniture, joinery and flooring businesses, with mills capable of guaranteeing a flow of sawn timber to the manufacturer’s specifications and supply schedules. Encouragement will also be given to process and produce from short lengths of timber, and to make use of lower grade, short-length solid logs or bole logs from the forest, which effectively includes the whole description of forest debris. This will require an appropriate scale of capital investment and quality assurance, as well as maintaining employment across different towns in the south west. Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
Consultation is taking place with companies in the industry which have been impacted by restructuring caused by the policy of protecting our old-growth forests. The Government will treat all timber millers equitably in the context of the parameters outlined above and the financial assistance available.
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.