Tasmania’s Resources Minister says the Liberals’ forestry legislation is squarely focused on the public interest, following the rejection of the plan by the peak body for the forest industry. Source: The Mercury
The Forest Industries Association of Tasmania says it cannot support the Government’s legislation to “unlock” 356,000 hectares of forests that had been set aside for future reserves under the former Tasmanian Forest Agreement.
Association chief executive Terry Edwards said he had advised the Government that FIAT and its members could not support the Bill because it would create unnecessary sovereign risk in log supply, problems in markets and would prompt a return to the “forestry wars”.
Mr Edwards said FIAT did not accept the minister’s argument the legislation was needed to avoid 700 job losses in the industry because of Forestry Tasmania reporting that about 25% of its proposed harvest within the (permanent timber production zone) is uneconomic.
“FIAT simply do not accept this simplified view and have repeatedly requested the opportunity to review the work done by Forestry Tasmania to assist to find more practical solutions but have been repeatedly refused by the minister,” he said.
There are currently no major timber businesses in Tasmania to have publicly expressed an interest in buying wood from the controversial expanded logging areas. But the special timbers sector supports the Government’s plan.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett was unmoved by FIAT’s opposition, saying the Liberal Government was acting in the interests of all Tasmanians by ending the $25 million in public subsidies going to the industry.
“We are not acting in the interests of special interest groups or vested interests … this plan has a benefit for all Tasmanians. We are acting for all Tasmanians,” he said.
Meanwhile, Labor released its position on forestry, which included allowing private operators a chance to log the 25% of coupes Forestry Tasmania says are “uncommercial”, a full audit of the 356,000 hectares to determine the amount of harvestable timber and continuing subsidies for cable logging.
Debate on the Government’s Bill is due to begin in the House of Assembly.
