The Hodgman government’s controversial forest bill is expected to be voted down in the upper house, after sitting in limbo for weeks. Source: The Examiner
In a late-night sitting on Wednesday, MLCs debated the bill.
The Tasmanian Forest Agreement, signed by the former Labor-Green government, endeavoured to reconcile the forest industry with conservationists, at once securing wood supply and seeking to protect areas of high conservation value.
But the government proposed to open up these very areas ahead of schedule, so Forestry Tasmania could be sure it would receive its annual quota of 137,000 cubic metres of high-quality sawlogs.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett said the bill would unlock roughly 356,000 hectares of Tasmanian forest – also known as future potential production forest land – previously safeguarded under a logging moratorium.
The industry was particularly divided over the legislation.
On the one hand, the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania spoke out against it.
On the other hand, several special species timber sawmillers said it would facilitate timber supply for the sector.
Questions were raised over the bill’s potential impact on FT’s bid for Forest Stewardship Council certification, which would allow it to access more timber markets.
Independent Apsley MLC Tania Rattray said the legislation would support “smaller sawmillers” in ensuring timber supply.
Meanwhile, independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest said it was not clear that special species timber operators really needed the legislative changes.
“If the government is serious and wants to assist the special species timber [sector], then just do that,” she said.
Leader of the Government in the upper house Leonie Hiscutt said the bill would make it “a heck of a lot easier” for special species timber sawmillers.
She said it would provide for greater wood access and for the employment of more Tasmanians.
