The Federal Opposition has called on the Albanese government to take greater control of the forest industry despite the Labor Party rejecting an internal push at its national conference to ban native forest harvesting. Source: Philip Hopkins, LaTrobe Valley Express
The conference committed the party to rewrite in this term the national forest policy statement drawn up in 1992. The forest policy statement will be revamped to “ensure the application of national environmental standards to Australia’s native forests”.
At the conference, the Labor Environment Action Network tried to force the government to end native forest harvesting and replace the industry with a national plantation estate.
The motion that would have committed Labor to “delivering the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use, which commits Australia to ‘halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030’ ” was passed, but only after the proposed ban on native timber harvesting was removed.
The Shadow Forestry Minister, Senator Jonno Duniam, called on the Albanese government to urgently step in to increase federal control of the forestry industry, which was in crisis.
Senator Duniam said federal Labor had watered down its position on forestry at the national conference at a time when mill after mill across the country was shutting down.
This followed calls from the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) for the Prime Minister to put sustainable forest resource security on the National Cabinet’s agenda, a move Senator Duniam welcomed.
“The Federal Labor Government need to do something as soon as possible to reverse the appalling decline of the forestry industry following recent state Labor government shutdowns of the native forestry industry in Western Australia and Victoria,” Senator Duniam said. “Labor governments nationwide are strangling this industry.”
Senator Duniam said federal Labor’s national conference platform had appeased the Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN) and Green voters, but did nothing to provide certainty to regional families in the industry.
“Regional communities from Gippsland to Geeveston, Nannup to Nambucca Heads rely on forestry to put food on the table. The industry and the jobs are too important to let go,” he said.
“Anthony Albanese and Murray Watt (the federal forestry minister) need to reject the agenda of ideology-driven, Green-vote-seeking Labor states by increasing federal control of this incredibly important, sustainable industry.”
The AFPA Acting Chief Executive, Natasa Sikman said the AFPA and the broader forest products sector welcomed the conference’s continued supportive position.
“Australia’s native forestry industry is the most sustainable in the world and active forest management, including sustainable harvesting, is critical to maintaining the health of our forests and for fighting climate change,” she said. “The products Australia’s native forestry creates are essential and unique, from floorboards to decking and home furnishing products to specialist packaging items.”
Ms Sikman also welcomed Labor’s refreshed commitment to expand Australia’s plantation estate.
“Australia desperately needs more timber tree plantings with local and international demand for timber and wood fibre growing rapidly as plastics and other less climate friendly products are phased out,” she said.
“Recognition of the skills, knowledge and competencies of timber workers along with the central role First Nations communities play in restoring country and delivering benefits from forest management activities, is also welcomed.
Ms Sikman said the AFPA would continue to work with the Albanese Government on its delivery of the $300 million, 2022 election commitments on forestry.
The Australian Forest Contractors Association General Manager, Tim Lester, said the national conference’s policy position acknowledged the role that positive, practical forest management played in maintaining and protecting forest assets while optimising benefits for the environment and people.
“The Labor Party’s statement makes clear the recognition of the skills, knowledge and competencies of timber workers and their communities in the management, protection and enhancement of native forests, a recognition that is often sorely lacking in debates about the future of the industry,” he said.
“Forest contractors are committed to the sustainability and viability of their industry, and this includes the successful management of the native forest estate.”
Mr Lester said sustainable productive forest management by industry meant the government could deliver on its environmental goals while supporting quality jobs in regional areas and not increasing costs for the taxpayer.
“And we should not forget the risks that an unmanaged forest presents in terms of real threatening processes such as bushfires, feral animals and weeds. The small, highly regulated and well managed areas of forest harvest pale in comparison to the vast areas impacted by fire, pests and weeds,” he said.
“Contractors are rightly proud of the work that they do and take a generational view. Sustainability is not just words on a page, it is our way of life. We welcome the on-going commitment of the Albanese government to our world-class forest management and look forward to working with them to deliver world-class results.”
