Question Time

FORESTRY MAPS

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Forests a question regarding forestry maps and broken promises.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Three generations ago, the Morgan family established a sawmill at Jamestown in the Mid North. Its timber came principally from the Wirrabara and Bundaleer forests. Bundaleer was the state's first plantation forest, planted in 1876. Morgan is proud of its quality and proficiency but is very concerned about the long-term supply of timber from ForestrySA. The company wants to know how much timber will be available, not just for three years but for 40 years.

Last September the company met with the Department of Primary Industries and Forestry at Jamestown and an agreement was made. It was a promise. The CEO of ForestrySA Mr Islay Robertson committed to complete detailed mapping of the Wirrabara and Bundaleer forests before the end of 2012. For the sake of clarity, that was last year and this is this year.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: My questions to the minister are:

1. Why was the mapping not done before the end of 2012?

2. If the mapping has been done, why have the results not been made available?

3. Can the minister understand that any sawmiller needs security of timber supply?

4. Does the minister agree that this important Jamestown business, with 40 employees, deserves to have government promises and commitments honoured?

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) (14:18): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. Indeed, we know that our timber industry is currently going through a very challenging time. We know that the national and international climate has made it very difficult. Our construction industry has collapsed and we see a range of very cheap timber being available internationally, which makes it difficult for us to compete, particularly when our dollar was very high. The climate is very tough for us, very tough indeed, so it is most important that wherever we can we give whatever reassurance that we can to the industry; that is a most important commitment.

I am not aware that a commitment was given to this particular timber mill, but I am happy to look into that and to investigate what the commitment was, if there was a commitment, and to determine if that commitment has not been fulfilled, why it hasn't been fulfilled, and I am happy to then bring that information back to the chamber.