Extract - House of Assembly Hansard

TASMANIAN HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HANSARD FORESTRY TASMANIA - NEW CONTRACTS

Thursday 19 May 2011 - Part 1

[10.38 a.m.] Mr BOOTH (Question) - They are a disorganised rabble, Mr Speaker, I agree. My question is to the minister for forests. Minister, do you now recognise that Forestry Tasmania's action by continuing to log and road in high-conservation value forest areas identified through the forest principles process for reservation under the agreed moratorium has contributed to the frustrations amongst the forest principles signatories and that it would ensure confidence was restored to those participants if clarity around Forestry Tasmania's action is provided? Minister, you would be aware that the Greens have sought unsuccessfully in this place to receive a clear answer from you regarding any new contracts that Forestry Tasmania may have entered into that involves those identified high-conservation value forests. Therefore, for the fourth time, can you provide a yes or no answer to this House to the following: has Forestry Tasmania entered into any new contracts for the roading or logging in any area identified as part of the forest area agreed for moratorium? Has Forestry Tasmania entered into any new product sales contracts for those areas? Have you now directed your rogue agency, Forestry Tasmania, to cease this practice? If so, when did you do that and, if not, why not?

Mr GREEN - I thank the member for his question. It gives me the opportunity, given that there has been quite a bit said about forestry over the past couple of day, to reiterate our support for the position going forward, that is, to the principles process, and we will continue to provide that support. I should put on the public record, as I think the Premier indicated yesterday or the day before, that it is her understanding that Bill Kelty will be taking a delegation to Canberra in the not-too-distant future - I think at the end of the month - to start thinking through issues associated with what might make the process viable for the parties to continue those negotiations, and I see that as a good thing. From my point of view, I will be meeting with the Federal Minister for the Environment in the not-too-distant future as well to discuss various options available to the Commonwealth and the State, which I see as a step forward as well.

I want to reiterate that this side of the House supports the process going forward. With respect to the member's specific questions, I answered a question yesterday on whether contracts to sawmillers had been taken up in recent times and I advised the House that there had been no take-up of contracts that I was aware of. Having said that, Forestry Tasmania has made contractual offers.

With respect to whether the moratorium is holding, the advice I have received is that there have been discussions with the ENGOs involved as to how they can meet their contractual arrangements, particularly for peeler-type logs from the southern forests, and it is my understanding that there was general agreement with respect to the coupes that would be required within the 2 per cent of the 98 per cent that has been set aside in moratorium. I wrote to Forestry Tasmania, and I think the letter was made public here, that I wanted them to cooperate with this process and I do not think I can do any more in that regard. The member has asked the question four times. If he could be more specific about where he is suggesting that there has been a breach, then perhaps I could have a look at it. The advice I have had is that there is no breach.