Australian Forest and Wood Innovations

In reply to the Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().8 February 2024).

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I am advised:

On December 6 last year, I wrote a support letter to the Hon. Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to provide the senator with information on our ambition to create the long-term research and development capability for the Green Triangle's economic prosperity, and to also deliver for forestry nationally.

I informed the senator that the Forestry Centre of Excellence would be submitting a bid to be one of the two Australian Forest and Wood Innovations research centres to be established outside of Tasmania.

I understand the bid has been submitted and am eagerly awaiting further information from the expression of interest process.

I also understand the shadow minister along with the Hon. Ben Hood MLC wrote a support letter for the application, signed on 8February 2024, nine weeks after the close of applications for the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations program and on the same day as the question was asked of me in question time.