❓ Hon Giz Watson asks about complaints regarding breaches of the Forest Management Plan (FMP) by Forest Products Commission (FPC) contractors. The response indicates few serious breaches and outlines FPC's complaint handling process.
AnsweredQoN 6229Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to section 10(1) of the
Forest Products Act 2000
, which empowers the Forest Products Commission (FPC) to enter into contracts for the harvesting and sale of forest products, and I ask —
(1) How many complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Forest Management Plan (FMP) by FPC contractors have been received by the Minister/FPC —
(a) over the past two years; and
(b) during the life of the current FMP?
(2) Where such a complaint is received by the Minister/FPC, is it always referred to the Department of Environment and Conservation for investigation, and if appropriate, enforcement action?
(3) If no to (2), what is the process for investigation of the complaint, and if appropriate taking enforcement action (please provide full details)?
(4) For all complaints of this nature received by the Minister/FPC over the past two years —
(a) how was the complaint dealt with;
(b) what was the final outcome, including but not limited to —
(i) any penalty; and
(ii) any criminal prosecution?
(5) What are the five most serious incidents relating to breaches of the current FMP by FPC contractors to date?
(6) Regarding each answer to (5) —
(a) what enforcement action was taken in response, and by which department/agency;
(b) what was the outcome of that action, including but not limited to —
(i) any penalty; and
(ii) any criminal prosecution?
Forest Products Act 2000
, which empowers the Forest Products Commission (FPC) to enter into contracts for the harvesting and sale of forest products, and I ask —
(1) How many complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Forest Management Plan (FMP) by FPC contractors have been received by the Minister/FPC —
(a) over the past two years; and
(b) during the life of the current FMP?
(2) Where such a complaint is received by the Minister/FPC, is it always referred to the Department of Environment and Conservation for investigation, and if appropriate, enforcement action?
(3) If no to (2), what is the process for investigation of the complaint, and if appropriate taking enforcement action (please provide full details)?
(4) For all complaints of this nature received by the Minister/FPC over the past two years —
(a) how was the complaint dealt with;
(b) what was the final outcome, including but not limited to —
(i) any penalty; and
(ii) any criminal prosecution?
(5) What are the five most serious incidents relating to breaches of the current FMP by FPC contractors to date?
(6) Regarding each answer to (5) —
(a) what enforcement action was taken in response, and by which department/agency;
(b) what was the outcome of that action, including but not limited to —
(i) any penalty; and
(ii) any criminal prosecution?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 November 2012
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Forestry
Response time
28 days
(1)(a) Nil
(b) FPC has a complaints register which records the general nature of concerns being expressed by individuals regarding FPC activities. The register does not provide specific information regarding breaches of the Forest Management Plan
(2) No
(3) Complaints are firstly investigated in accordance with FPC's Complaints Management Policy and Procedure. [See tabled paper no.]
(4) Not applicable
(5) FPC operates an environmental management system which seeks to capture all the incidents which have or may have an impact on the environment. Many of these incidents are not related to the FMP. Incidents are rated in accordance with their seriousness. There have been only two high-level incidents which involve contractors:
1. The off-site movement of chemicals used in fire break spraying (11 September 2006)
2. Unauthorised thinning in a fauna habitat zone (18 October 2005)
(6)(a)-(b) In response to the first incident there was a review of working arrangements by FPC and CALM. This resulted in ongoing compliance with spraying standards and no repeats of this type of incident have been recorded. The second incident resulted in improved demarcation and contractor training by FPC and the protection of fauna habitat zones from silvicultural treatment.
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(b) FPC has a complaints register which records the general nature of concerns being expressed by individuals regarding FPC activities. The register does not provide specific information regarding breaches of the Forest Management Plan
(2) No
(3) Complaints are firstly investigated in accordance with FPC's Complaints Management Policy and Procedure. [See tabled paper no.]
(4) Not applicable
(5) FPC operates an environmental management system which seeks to capture all the incidents which have or may have an impact on the environment. Many of these incidents are not related to the FMP. Incidents are rated in accordance with their seriousness. There have been only two high-level incidents which involve contractors:
1. The off-site movement of chemicals used in fire break spraying (11 September 2006)
2. Unauthorised thinning in a fauna habitat zone (18 October 2005)
(6)(a)-(b) In response to the first incident there was a review of working arrangements by FPC and CALM. This resulted in ongoing compliance with spraying standards and no repeats of this type of incident have been recorded. The second incident resulted in improved demarcation and contractor training by FPC and the protection of fauna habitat zones from silvicultural treatment.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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