Matters relating to the timber industry in the Limestone Coast will continue to be probed by a sub-committee of State Parliament. Source: SE Voice, Timberbiz
Such a committee sat during the last parliamentary term from 2018-2022 and it has attracted cross-party support to continue.
Liberal Upper House Opposition Leader Nicola Centofanti moved to re-establish the committee and it has been backed by Labor Forest Industries Minister Clare Scriven.
Ms Centofanti said the committee had not produced a final report ahead of the March election.
“During its three years it heard a substantial amount of evidence and received a number of submissions,” Ms Centofanti said.
“The committee heard evidence from government departments and agencies, such as PIRSA and Forestry South Australia; local government; large timber producers such as OneFortyOne Plantations; and industry groups such as the South Australian Timber Processors Association, the Australian Forest Products Association, Forest and Wood Products Australia and the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub.
“It also heard evidence from a number of small and medium businesses, as well as individuals from various sections of the timber industry.”
Ms Scriven said she was pleased that so many within the industry in the region participated in that committee.
“The submissions that I received as part of that committee greatly assisted myself and the then Opposition in identifying a number of matters that fed into our policy development process,” Minister Scriven said.
“It led to a large number of election commitments for the forestry industry.
“We know, of course, there was very little in the way of election commitments by the former Liberal government, now Opposition, in terms of commitments for the forest industry.
“So, if establishing this committee will assist them in being a constructive Opposition then that is something we will support.
“However, it is somewhat ironic the now Liberal Opposition is proposing the re-establishment of this committee, given their fierce opposition to setting up such a committee when they were in government.”
The select committee will consist of two Labor MLCs, two Liberal MLCs and SA Best MLC Frank Pangallo.
The South Australian Timber Processors Association has congratulated the South Australian Parliament on the passing of a motion that reopens the enquiry into the exporting of wood fibre and other matters regarding the timber industry in the Limestone Coast of South Australia.
This enquiry was originally introduced by the member for Mount Gambier, Troy Bell, assisted with input from SATPA
