The Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA) has backed calls from the national peak forestry body for the Federal Government to withdraw support for the NSW Government’s proposed Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Forests (INFM) method. Source: Timberbiz
In a media statement, the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) CEO, Diana Hallam, said that there were serious questions over the validity and integrity of the INFM method proposed by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW).
The plan, which has received support from the Federal Government, proposes ending sustainable native forestry as part of a model for improving Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) program.
Despite being a plan by the NSW Government, to work it relies on sustainable native forestry to be ended across Australia.
TFPA Chief Executive Officer, Nick Steel, said the model tries to force the Tasmanian Government to march in lockstep with the radical proposal by the NSW Government.
“The model proposed by the NSW Government, and backed by the Federal Government, would see the end of sustainable native forestry in Tasmania” Mr Steel said.
“Our industry has bipartisan support in Tasmania. But this looks like another case of a mainland state trying to impose its opinions onto our island.
“This proposal also flies directly into the face of commitments to protect Tasmanian native forestry made by Anthony Albanese before the last federal election.”
Before the federal poll in 2022, Mr Albanese wrote to Tasmanian timber workers promising “if I become Prime Minister, a Government I lead will not shut down the native forest industry in Tasmania”.
“The industry welcomed the commitment from Mr Albanese in 2022. Tasmanians saw this as a pledge not to cut jobs in regional parts of our state,” Mr Steel said.
“However, the Federal Government’s support of this new INFM model flies directly in the face of that promise.
“We would welcome Mr Albanese publicly reiterating the promise he made to Tasmanian forestry workers in 2022, to continue to support our respected, responsible and renewable industry,” Mr Steel said.
