Question Time

FORESTRYSA

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Forests a question about local jobs and her government's ruthless sell-out of the forestry industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The opposition warned that the forward sale of the state forest products would cost local jobs. The government ignored the warning and they called it false. The government sold the publicly owned ForestrySA assets. The new owner is a consortium, called OneFortyOne Plantations, headed by the American Campbell Group.

It made the announcement on 17 October last year in a press release issued from Portland, Oregon, which said that the company now owned, and I quote, 'the highest quality softwood plantations in Australia'. You can find out more information on the sale by phoning the number, but it was an international call. Economists, the forestry industry, local traders, timber workers and their families said local jobs would go interstate. My questions to the minister are:

1. Is the position of chief operations officer for OneFortyOne Plantations Ltd now being advertised?

2. Is the position of chief operations officer for OneFortyOne Plantations Pty Ltd, now being advertised, to be based in Melbourne?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:20): I thank the honourable member for his questions. I do not have the answer to those questions. They are obviously matters for OFO, but I am happy to take them on notice and bring back an answer.