The extension of the Regional Forest Agreements to June 2030 by the Australian and Victorian Governments provided certainty for the Victorian forestry industry, according to the Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Senator Jonathon Duniam. Source: Timberbiz
Senator Duniam said the extension of the five RFAs until 20 June 2030 struck a balance between the sustainable supply of wood and protecting the biodiversity of our native forests.
“This is important and timely certainty for the Victorian forestry industry which was devastated by the recent bushfires and deserted by the Victorian Government’s unilateral decision to end native forest harvesting,” he said.
The Victorian RFAs offered a modern approach to forest management through increased transparency, outcomes-focused reporting and reviews, and the inclusion of the role of Traditional Owners.
However, the peak organisation representing professional foresters, scientists, land managers and commercial tree growers in Australia, the Institute of Foresters of Australia, and the State Opposition have given muted approval to the extension.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said that the Victorian Government had stonewalled this process for years which only served to create more uncertainty on jobs and confidence in the sector.
“Victorians who rely on the timber industry to pay the bills and put food on the table will be relieved these new RFAs have finally been signed off, but it’s cold comfort while the Andrews Government is hell-bent on banning native timber harvesting by 2030,” Mr Walsh said.
IFA/AFG President, Bob Gordon said it was welcome news that there would be some certainty in Victoria with the Victorian Regional Forest Agreement set to continue, but disappointing that it appeared to confirm the Victorian Government wishes the state to exit native forests.
“By renewing these agreements for only 10 years and placing them out of step with all the other Regional Forest Agreements in Australia, it would appear to confirm the Andrews Government still wishes to exit native forest harvesting by 2030,” Mr Gordon said.
“This is particularly disappointing news for all those who have worked so hard, risking their lives and livelihoods to protect the community during the devastating bushfires.
“On behalf of the IFA and the Australian Forests Growers I welcome the decision to extend the Victorian Regional Forest Agreements but would ask the Andrews Government to reconsider its decision on native forests.
“Harvesting of native forests in a sustainable manner not only creates employment in rural and regional Victoria, but it also further protects the environment through best practice forest management.
“Additionally, well managed multiple-use forests reduce risk to the community from a bushfire management perspective and this means in times of disaster there are resources present on the ground to protect communities from bushfires.
“If the Andrews Government follows through with its ‘lock it and leave’ approach to native forests, not only will local communities suffer needlessly, but forest fire risks will continue to increase and more resources will be needed to protect the community,” Mr Gordon said.
Senator Duniam said the Federal and State Governments had made these improvements to the agreements to reflect changes in forest policy and process, and the feedback from the Victorian community, including 135 written submissions and 733 online survey responses.
“Extending the RFAs for these five forestry regions of Victoria provides long-term surety of resource access for industry, ecologically sustainable management and use of forested areas and an extensive system of conservation reserves,” Senator Duniam said.
The updated RFAs will be available to the public on the department’s website next week. It is a statutory requirement that the RFAs are tabled in Parliament before being publicly released, this will occur in an out-of-session tabling in Parliament next week and the RFAs will be published immediately thereafter.
