The Tasmanian Government has lashed out at the Opposition’s saying it fails to provide a single extra log, or a single extra job to Tasmania’s forestry industry. Source: Timberbiz
“It is nothing more than a damp Green squib,” Resources Minister Felix Ellis said.
Variously, it commits to stopping the current plantation log allocation process – but provides no detail about how Labor plan to reallocate this wood, reviewing the available timber resources in Tasmania; and developing a process for access to wood.
“What is pointedly missing from Labor’s policy is any mention of the Future Potential Production Forest and the estimated 158,000 cubic metres of high-quality sawlog available there,” Mr Ellis said.
“It is very clear that Labor is still a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Greens and still haven’t learned the lessons of 2010-2014.
“In contrast, our forestry policy will secure the supply all Tasmanian sawmillers need by opening the ‘wood bank’ Tasmanians voted for, and extending contracts to 2040,” he said.
“Unlike Labor, we will always act in the best interests of the State not sectional interests, and we will not be held hostage by the Greens.”
Meanwhile the Australian Forest Contractors Association has welcomed the positive policy announcements from the Liberal Party.
“Last week’s announcements on timber resource security recognise that the forest product supply chain needs certainty in order to facilitate investment,” AFCA general manager Tim Lester said.
“Sustainable forestry offers Tasmania and Tasmanians the opportunity to achieve a triple win with secure, high-quality jobs generating an incredible, renewable and in-demand material that is ripe for value-adding, and deliver positive results for the environment, biodiversity and climate change.
“Forest contractors are a critical part of the local supply chain and welcome all efforts to strengthen the industry within Tasmania to protect jobs, boost the economy and help to meet ambitious climate change targets,” he said.
“Forest management needs to focus on the long-term, so we know that we can keep delivering positive results for generations of Tasmanians to come.
“A political and policy environment that provides certainty for business investment is absolutely critical, and we welcome the promises from Jeremy Rockliffe and Felix Ellis that support this goal,” Mr Lester said.
