FORESTRYSA

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:45): By way of a supplementary question, does the minister support the guarantee given by former Treasurer Foley in the House of Assembly on 24 November that 'there will be no decision by the government that will adversely impact on jobs and the timber industry in the South-East of the state'?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:45): As I said in my initial answer, the timber industry and forestry are a tremendously important part of the South-East and state economies. The government will have, first and foremost, its desire to ensure that that industry has a viable future, that the jobs in that industry will be protected as much as is possible and that there will be a viable industry into the future.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: The Hon. Mr Ridgeway seems to think that somehow I can guarantee economic conditions into the future. Of course, no minister could ever guarantee what the price of timber will be in future or the number of jobs, and it would be misleading if I were to try to make such a guarantee, but I certainly can say that the government is committed to ensuring a viable and strong forest industry into the future that has at its core a strong employment base.

The PRESIDENT: The new minister scored 10 out of 10.