Tony Pasin
The decision to base Australian Forest and Wood Innovation regional hubs at the University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Melbourne has been attacked by the Member for Barker Tony Pasin. Source: Timberbiz
Mr Pasin MP said it was disappointing that the Green Triangle had been overlooked in the Federal Government’s attempts to build the nation’s forestry research and development capability through the AFWI.
Last year, it was announced that the University of Tasmania (UTAS) would host AFWI, a national research institute committed to advancing research and innovation to support Australia’s vital forest and wood product industries, by drawing on the best researchers and facilities across Australia.
Last week the Federal Government announced the two regional hubs will be established at the University of the Sunshine Coast and University of Melbourne supporting UTAS. Each research centre will have access to $24.5 million in funding as part of the more than $100 million AFWI grant agreement with UTAS.
Mr Pasin said a Coalition Government had invested in a forest and forest product research sector based in Mount Gambier and that this existing capability was now under threat.
“Failure to secure an Australian Forest and Wood Innovation research hub in Mount Gambier is a huge loss to our region and yet another example of the inability of our State Labor Government to lobby their Federal Labor mates and stand up for South Australia,” Mr Pasin said.
“The Green Triangle offered an unapparelled opportunity for continued Australian Government investment in forest and forest product research and development given the regions 140-year history in growing and producing world renowned forest products and the inherent understanding that exists locally of forest and forest products research requirements.
“Mount Gambier has well established research capability through UniSA, which to date has been highly valued by the local industry and the national sector. Without the ongoing support from the Federal Government, this local research capability will at best be severely diminished, at worst lost completely.”
Mr Pasin said the South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas loved to come to Mount Gambier for a photo opportunity with Forestry Minister Clare Scriven to suggest his government supported the forestry industry.
“But where are they standing up for the Green Triangle and lobbying their Federal Labor counterparts when we need them? Labor sold our forests, and it seems they still don’t understand the importance of the industry to our region,” Mr Pasin said.
Ms Scriven told The Border Watch that South Australia was still “well-placed” in research and development capability following a $15m investment in creating the Forestry Centre for Excellence in Mount Gambier.
Ms Scriven said she was concerned Mr Pasin’s “petty politicking” could also undermine future funding applications for Mount Gam-bier and would have hoped to see “bi-partisan support” for the industry.
“It is hard to identify anything at all that Tony Pasin delivered for the forest industry in the South East while his party was in government,” Ms Scriven said.
“I encourage Tony to engage with the industry and develop some policies that will assist the industry to grow, rather than these little stunts.
“The industry and the community want positive plans such as the Malinauskas Labor government is delivering rather than attempts at political point scoring.”
