Tasmania’s peak forestry industry body, the Tasmanian Forest Products Association, has welcomed the release of a draft Private Senator’s Bill by Tasmanian Senator Richard Colbeck yesterday. Source: Timberbiz
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Amendment (Reconsideration of Decisions) Bill 2024 aims to introduce limitations on time frames allowed for reconsideration of EPBC decisions, and limits those who may seek reconsideration after a period of three years.
TFPA Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel said the Bill will protect jobs and regional economies across Tasmania by giving businesses certainty when investing in new projects.
“Even though the EPBC Act is just a part of the current Tasmanian Regional Forestry Agreement’s (RFA) environmental assessment mechanism, any change to the EPBC Act could have a devastating impact on our regional forestry communities, as we have seen in other industries across the state,” Mr Steel said.
Mr Steel said investing in the resources sectors in Tasmania needs to be made secure, to protect jobs, regional communities and the millions of dollars the industries bring to the Tasmanian economy.
“Financing forestry endeavours in Tasmania is an expensive and long-term investment. Without certainty that that investment will pay off, our members can find it difficult to find finance for their projects,” Mr Steel said.
“Forestry, and the entire Tasmanian resources sector, fully supports Senator Colbeck’s Bill, and I call on all Tasmanian Members of Parliament, as well as those who care about regional jobs across Australia to support this important piece of legislation.”
