❓ Opposition questions the government's plan to meet sawlog demand after the native forestry ban, focusing on the reliance on softwood plantations and potential economic impacts. The Minister refutes the premise, highlighting the different uses of softwood and hardwood and the government's investment in softwood.
AnsweredQoN 1285Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FOREST PRODUCTS
COMMISSION — SAWLOGS
1285. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the native forestry ban
and the impact it will have on Western Australian communities, and to the
government's plan to increase reliance on softwood timber plantations,
which have a rotation of 25 to 30 years.
(1) With a decrease
in the supply of sawlogs as a result of the closure of the native forestry
industry, how does the government expect to meet demand with softwood sawlogs
while waiting 25 or more years for the first rotation of new plantations to
mature?
(2) Has the
government conducted an economic impact assessment of the impact that a lack of
sawlog supplies will have?
(3) If not, why not?
(4) If so, will the minister table
the report?
COMMISSION — SAWLOGS
1285. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the native forestry ban
and the impact it will have on Western Australian communities, and to the
government's plan to increase reliance on softwood timber plantations,
which have a rotation of 25 to 30 years.
(1) With a decrease
in the supply of sawlogs as a result of the closure of the native forestry
industry, how does the government expect to meet demand with softwood sawlogs
while waiting 25 or more years for the first rotation of new plantations to
mature?
(2) Has the
government conducted an economic impact assessment of the impact that a lack of
sawlog supplies will have?
(3) If not, why not?
(4) If so, will the minister table
the report?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The premise of the question is incorrect. Softwood
timber and hardwood timber are used for different purposes.
The Cook Labor government is acting
and investing in the future of the state's softwood estate to ensure
that the construction and housing industry in WA will have the resource that it
will require into the future, through its $350 million softwood investment
program. This investment is being made following years of inaction under the
previous Liberal–National government.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The premise of the question is incorrect. Softwood
timber and hardwood timber are used for different purposes.
The Cook Labor government is acting
and investing in the future of the state's softwood estate to ensure
that the construction and housing industry in WA will have the resource that it
will require into the future, through its $350 million softwood investment
program. This investment is being made following years of inaction under the
previous Liberal–National government.
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