❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the impact of the native hardwood harvesting ban, focusing on job losses, support payments, and transition programs. The response provides figures on worker support and program expenditure, but withholds specific recipient details citing confidentiality.
AnsweredQoN 1709Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the native forestry transition plan, and i ask: (a) how many workers have lost their job as a result of the government's decision to ban native hardwood harvesting; (b) how many workers have applied for payment as part of the support packages announced by the Government; (c) how many workers have received payment as part of the support packages: (i) what is the total amount paid out as of today; (d) has the transition group identified new employment opportunities for workers in the south west: (i) if so, what are they; and (ii) how many people are expected to be employed in each of those; (e) how much has been spent as part of the Business Transition Programs since announced in 2021: (i) will the Minister please provide a list of recipients, including the amount received; and (f) how much has been spent as part of the Industry and Community Development Programs since announced in 2021: (i) will the Minister please provide a list of recipients including the amount received?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 November 2023
Responded by
Minister for Forestry
Response time
7 days
As at 23 October 2023, 229 workers have applied for support under the Workforce Transition Program.
(b) See (a) above.
(c) As at 23 October 2023, 199 workers have received a payment under the Workforce Transition Program with a further 30 payments to be processed in the coming weeks.
(i) As at 23 October 2023, a total of $6,394,390.39 has been paid under the Workforce Transition Program.
(d) JTSI’s NFT Team join representatives from South Regional TAFE, Jobs and Skills Centre, Chamber of Minerals and Energy, and Community Resource Centres for a monthly meeting led by Workforce Australia to discuss employment opportunities and support available to impacted workers.
(i) Employment opportunities have been identified in a range of sectors including mining, agriculture, retail, trades and healthcare.
(ii) The number expected to be employed in each sector cannot be estimated, as the roles in each sector vary along with the skill-sets of the displaced workers. The expectation is that through the support offered across a range of agencies, all displaced forestry workers will be supported to identify and apply for employment opportunities.
(e) As at 23 October 2023 a total of $24,591,904.42 has been paid under the Business Transition Program.
(i) Details of the recipients and individual amounts received under the Business Transition Program are confidential for personal and commercial-in-confidence reasons. I refer the Member to my answer to Question On Notice No. 1124 asked in the Legislative Council on 22 November 2022 for the methodology of how each payment was calculated.
(f) As at 23 October 2023, 48 separate projects have been approved for funding under the various Industry and Community Development Grant programs, with $6,562,244 paid.
(i) See Tabled paper No. ####.
(b) See (a) above.
(c) As at 23 October 2023, 199 workers have received a payment under the Workforce Transition Program with a further 30 payments to be processed in the coming weeks.
(i) As at 23 October 2023, a total of $6,394,390.39 has been paid under the Workforce Transition Program.
(d) JTSI’s NFT Team join representatives from South Regional TAFE, Jobs and Skills Centre, Chamber of Minerals and Energy, and Community Resource Centres for a monthly meeting led by Workforce Australia to discuss employment opportunities and support available to impacted workers.
(i) Employment opportunities have been identified in a range of sectors including mining, agriculture, retail, trades and healthcare.
(ii) The number expected to be employed in each sector cannot be estimated, as the roles in each sector vary along with the skill-sets of the displaced workers. The expectation is that through the support offered across a range of agencies, all displaced forestry workers will be supported to identify and apply for employment opportunities.
(e) As at 23 October 2023 a total of $24,591,904.42 has been paid under the Business Transition Program.
(i) Details of the recipients and individual amounts received under the Business Transition Program are confidential for personal and commercial-in-confidence reasons. I refer the Member to my answer to Question On Notice No. 1124 asked in the Legislative Council on 22 November 2022 for the methodology of how each payment was calculated.
(f) As at 23 October 2023, 48 separate projects have been approved for funding under the various Industry and Community Development Grant programs, with $6,562,244 paid.
(i) See Tabled paper No. ####.
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