A Parliamentary Committee probing the timber industry in the Limestone Coast in South Australia should be re-instated after the 19 March State Election, according to a local politician. Source: SE Voice
The call has come from South Australia’s Shadow Forests Minister and Labor MLC Clare Scriven who chaired the all-party Upper House select committee.
Ms Scriven recently tabled an interim report in the Legislative Council, and it stated her fellow members also wanted it to continue.
“While it is unfortunate the complete report is not yet finalised, the gathering of the evidence has been invaluable in providing greater insight into the industry and the opportunities within it,” Ms Scriven said.
“In the interim report, we recommend the committee be re-established following the election to be able to receive all of that evidence and then make and present the final report.
“The timber industry is an industry that is worth $3b each year.
“It is an industry that employs 18,000 people directly and indirectly.
“It is a truly renewable industry, with significant carbon benefits, and of course it provides essential products for our community, from house frames to furniture, paper, cardboard and tissue manufacturing.
“Increased demand both domestically and internationally, as well as losses of trees through bushfires, has created significant timber shortages, so it was an important committee to look at an important industry.
“We received 33 separate submissions, which were highly detailed, lengthy and considered, and I would like to thank all of the people and organisations who devoted so much time to making those submissions, appearing before the committee and hosting site visits, particularly given the COVID interruptions and difficulties.
“I would like to particularly place on the record my appreciation of the work of those parliamentary members on the committee, because it was approached in a very balanced way, without seeking to score political points but instead working cooperatively to look at future opportunities to support a crucial industry for our state.”
