Mia Davies WA Labor Opposition Leader
Questioning by the WA Opposition’s Mia Davies has revealed that the Forest Products Commission is not planning on issuing any timber contracts from 1 January 2024 until an indeterminate time in the future. Source: Australian Rural & Regional News
To help the FPC get through this period WA Minister Don Punch indicated that $11 million would be provided to help cover the FPC’s fixed costs, in addition $24 million would be provided to help it with ecological thinning.
“It is a relief that that government employees will have their wages paid while they wait for the new arrangements to be settled,” said David Utting, convenor of the Sustainable Forest Industries Roundtable.
“But there is nothing for industry or for small business who will have to sit on their hands for six months or more and wait for the government to make up its mind. How are these businesses expected to stay afloat with no resource?”
The WA Minister for Forestry has repeatedly advised that there would be a continuity of supply of wood from mine site clearing and from ecological thinning, but the budget hearing provided a different story. The disdain for small business is palpable, as once again no information has been provided to industry.
“It is a clear tactic to force businesses out of the sector,” said Mr Utting. “It’s not only business that will suffer, products to consumers will become scarce. I am very concerned about people who rely on firewood for heating as it looks like next year will be worse than this year, if that’s possible.
“The government needs to come clean and issue a timetable for people to work on; they need to show some respect for the remains of this industry which has supported the people of WA for more than 150 years.”
