Senator Richard Colbeck
Stakeholders now have until 12 June to finalise submissions to the review of the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA). Source: Timberbiz
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Richard Colbeck, and Tasmanian Minister for Resources, Paul Harriss have extended the time frame for submissions.
Minister Harriss said extending the public comment period would allow for interested community members and stakeholders to finalise their submissions.
“This extension should ensure the forestry industry in Tasmania has ample time to consider all the issues associated with the extension of the RFA,” Minister Harriss said.
“I am looking forward to the completion of the review and to the outcomes it will deliver for Tasmania.”
Once the review is completed, the Australian Government will begin formal negotiations with the Tasmanian Government to extend the Tasmanian RFA which is due to expire in 2017.
Senator Colbeck said the forestry industry in Tasmania is being consulted on multiple processes at the same time, including the Forest Industry Advisory Council’s strategic directions issues paper, and the extra two weeks would give all interested stakeholders a chance to put forward their ideas.
“The RFA review will assess progress in implementing commitments to ensure the agreement is delivering the right balance of environmental, economic and social outcomes for Tasmania,” Senator Colbeck said.
“The review is an important step in delivering the Australian Government’s election commitment to negotiate an extended RFA with a 20 year rolling life.”
Public comments must now be received by the Tasmanian Department of State Growth by 5pm on 12 June 2015.
For more information on the Tasmanian RFA review, including how to make a submission visit the Tasmanian Department of State Growth website stategrowth.tas.gov.au/forestry/rfa.
