Forestry Industry

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house about how the government is supporting innovation in the forest industries?

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens can also leave for half an hour.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: I'll miss this.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I know—soon it will be on Facebook live.

The honourable member for West Torrens having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:08): I thank the member for MacKillop for his very important question. Of course, forestry is amongst the great economic drivers in his electorate, as it is down in the Green Triangle of the South-East. On Friday, I announced the first round of projects funding through the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation centre in Mount Gambier. This announcement was made with the federal Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Richard Colbeck, and the local member, Tony Pasin, the member for Barker.

Four projects have been awarded funding, and the projects have a total value of $3.3 million. The Australian and South Australian governments are contributing about $1.3 million to the successful projects—a partnership, a collaboration, between this state government and the commonwealth, $650,000 apiece—as well as being matched by $2 million of funding and in-kind contributions from the forestry industry and research agencies.

This is a really positive sign to an industry that is growing and shows their commitment to innovation. This government is helping the industry achieve its target to double the economic value of its domestic timber manufacturing by 2050. I think it is an outstanding commitment from both the government and industry to stand tall.

The forest industries of South Australia are quiet achievers. There are 3,000 to 4,000 hectares of forestry seedlings replanted every year. It is a renewal industry. The sector is worth $2.3 billion and the South-East Green Triangle is undisputedly the best forestry region in the country. It directly employs 5,500 people and generates employment for another 12,500. I do acknowledge the previous government's commitment to the national institute, a commitment that we are only too happy to continue. The research undertaken in Mount Gambier will have national implications and it can be applied to other plantation regions right around the country.

Some of the great initiatives and projects that were awarded funding include the solutions for optimal use in remotely acquired, high-resolution data for the forestry sector. That project involves an assessment of rapidly advancing remote sensors on drones, airborne and satellite platforms. Another really good initiative is the wearable sensors, improving occupational health and safety. For those of you who don't understand the vagaries of the forestry industry, it is quite a risky occupation, dealing with heavy machinery and a lot of moving parts, particularly during harvest. Wearable sensors are new technology, and that is part of one of the great agtech industries that this government will promote and support.

The forestry industry here in South Australia, as I said, is a quiet achiever. It is an industry that is looking to double its manufacturing value by 2050. It is an industry that this government will support—hashtag #ForestsMatter.