Question Time

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FOREST INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Forests a question regarding waste and duplication.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: After selling the state's forests, gutting the industry and creating havoc out of harmony, the government set up the Forest Industry Advisory Board to duplicate the work already being done by the board of ForestrySA, and it doesn't come cheap. The Forest Industry Advisory Board chair, an old Labor union mate, is collecting $50,000 a year for a so-called 'attraction and retention allowance'. That is the average Australian yearly salary, which the Labor-appointed chair gets as an attraction allowance, on top of his board fees. I guess he is probably very attracted. My questions to the minister are:

1. How many members of the Forest Industry Advisory Board live in South Australia?

2. Does board member Alison Carmichael reside in Canberra?

3. Is board member Alison Carmichael the same Alison Carmichael who served as a board member of Rainforest Rescue?

4. How many rainforests are there in South Australia?

5. Does board member Jane Calvert reside in Melbourne?

6. Is this the same Jane Calvert who represents the CFMEU on an interstate council implementing the Tasmanian Forests Agreement?

7. How many Tasmanian forests are there in South Australia?

8. Does board member Caroline Pidcock reside in Sydney?

9. Is this the same Caroline Pidcock who was chair of Living Futures Institute Australia, based in New South Wales; Carriageworks, based in New South Wales; Greening Australia New South Wales; Sacred Heart Education Ministry board New South Wales; and the Object Gallery's advisory group of New South Wales?

10. Do South Australian taxpayers pay the airfares for board members to attend meetings, and do they fly economy?

11. How much does this cost per board meeting, and what attraction and retention allowances are paid to the other board members?

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) (14:33): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. I have put on the record in this place before that the recently constituted South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board has been established to provide us with advice and recommendations about the future strategic needs of the forest products industry in this state. If the Hon. David Ridgway doesn't believe that that is a priority, then he is not of this planet. The industry currently is going through significant problems in terms of the currently—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Because you sold the forests.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The sale of the forests had nothing to do with it. The current context, in terms of the challenges before the industry at the moment, has nothing whatsoever to do with the sale of the forest. It has to do with global trends in our timber industry. They are having a huge impact here in South Australia, and part of the reason is that we have not geared up for a value-adding type of industry. We have remained with traditional types of logging and sawing, and we need to move out of that space and into another space. That is exactly the purpose of this board: to provide this state with guidance and a plan to move forward to reposition ourselves so that we can maintain a sustainable timber industry here in South Australia.

The forestry board of South Australia manages legacy forests—that's what they do; that's what their job is. What we have asked for is some very specific work to be done, some strategic analysis and some big picture people who understand the global context of the industry. We need people who understand what is going on globally as well as having local input. We need a plan to go forward that will stack up nationally and internationally. That is why we have carefully selected the board members for this new board.

The objective is that we build on the advantages that the industry currently has—and there are some. South Australia is a national leader in plantation forestry management, building on over 130 years of expertise. The Green Triangle resource, including that within South Australia, is the largest and arguably the most productive plantation region in Australia. Our forest products provide a renewable carbon-storing source for building materials, and the industry has also demonstrated a long-term commitment to sustainable forest management and technology innovation.

The board's task, as I have said in this place before, is to develop a blueprint for the future South Australian forest and wood products industry. This blueprint will include, but not be limited to, identifying and advising on emerging domestic and international opportunities that will enhance the sustainable economic development of the forest and forest product sectors in South Australia.

As I said, we need big picture people, people who understand what is happening globally and can help to inform and provide direction and leadership for our industry. Of course, this will provide advice on emerging domestic and international opportunities to enhance the sustainable economic development of the forest-related industry in South Australia and issues that are inhibiting the economic development in that industry. The board will advise regarding the transition of forest and the forest products sector to be creative and agile.

The changes in the global economy obviously present a unique opportunity and challenge to transform South Australia's forest products manufacturing sector to one that relies on design, innovation and new ideas for competitiveness, connecting our strengths in research and manufacturing, to become leaders in a new industry. That is where we have to go: we have to go into new territory, new industry and new markets. I also expect the board to act as a high-level conduit between industry and the government, obviously utilising its expertise and networks. Again, we try to tap into international networks, not just statewide, and also consultation, engaging with and identifying economic opportunities. The board will also work in harmony with others.

This project is also linked to other initiatives, which include the cellulose fibre value chain study currently underway in the South-East, the government's $27 million South East Forestry Partnerships Program, and also relevant initiatives from the Limestone Coast Economic Diversification Forum. So you can see, Mr President, this government has invested a great deal of energy, effort and money into this sector to ensure we do have a long-term future in this state, and I cannot believe that the Hon. David Ridgway is of so small a mind and outlook that he cannot see the benefit of bringing in not only state experts but also national experts who have international credibility.

The Chair receives, I am advised, $258 per four hour session and members receive $206 per four hour session, and I have said in this place before—it is on the record—that the Chair receives $50,000 per year. I think the term is for about 18 months, so there is a limited term of office for this project; it has a beginning and an end. So that is $50,000 per year for 1½ years that has been agreed to so far and members receive $5,000 per year. I have been advised that Jane Calvert is from Melbourne, and I am not sure about Caroline Pidcock. Let me go through the credentials of this very important talented board.

Trevor Smith has extensive experience in the forest industry and demonstrated leadership in high level and complex review processes. He is managing director of Advisory Consulting Employment Services and was chair of the South-East forestry industry round table. As I said, he showed enormous capability and was held in very high regard by all stakeholders for the work he did on that round table. He showed he was able to work right across the industry. He was able to work with all relevant stakeholders and they produced very positive outcomes for the industry and, as I said, he conducted himself extremely well and was held in extremely high regard by all sectors of the industry.

As I said previously in this place, for the purposes of continuity I attempted to put in some members from the old forestry board and also some members from the forestry round table, as well as some additional skills and expertise to make up this particular committee. Alison Carmichael has extensive experience as a senior executive and consultant in the agriculture, natural resource management, sustainability and communication sectors, with particular expertise in business and industry development and she is currently the chief executive officer of the Institute of Foresters of Australia.

Jane Calvert has been employed by the forestry and furnishing products division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union for more than 20 years. She is currently national president of that division. She is Chair of ForestWorks—the industry skills council—and is also Chair of the Tasmanian Forests & Forest Industries Council. She is an incredibly competent and capable person and, what is more, she is also held in high regard by a broad range of sector stakeholders. She is obviously held in high regard within the union movement, but her skills and expertise go way beyond that. She is held in high regard right throughout.

Shelley Dunstone has a background in law and works as a consultant in innovative practice and competitive advantage. She has financial and investment qualifications coupled with experience in reconceptualising business problems. John Fargher has extensive experience in forest and water management. His current activities include work with the Australian government and their overseas development programs. He was chair of the Forest Industry Development Board and a former presiding member of the Water Resources Council under the Water Resources Act 1997.

Ian McDonnell has been involved in the saw milling industry for 38 years. He has been involved in industry bodies such as logging, investigation and training associations, including two terms as President of the South-East Log Haulers Association. Ms Caroline Pidcock is an architect with interest and experience in sustainable built environments. She is currently director of Pidcock Architecture + Sustainability, Chair of the Carriageworks and Living Futures Institute Australia boards and a member of the Greening Australia, New South Wales board. Mr Phil Lloyd is General Manager, Resource, of Timberlink Australia in the South-East and is a member of the South-East forest industry round table and has extensive plantation resource experience in both the South-East and Victoria. That is only to mention a few of the fabulous talents we have.