Forestry Industry

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:36): My question is to the Minister for Forest Industries. Will the minister update the council about the significant forestry election commitments that have been delivered over the last four years?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:37): I thank the honourable member for his question. The forest industry in South Australia is worth around $3 billion and employs, both directly and indirectly, a total of roughly 18,000 to 21,000 people. Indeed, one in four people in the South-East of our state have employment directly connected to the forest industry.

While members opposite at the last election failed to articulate any significant forestry-related election policies at all, members on this side of the council took to the election a suite of election policies that we have been busy implementing over the last almost four years. Forestry, in many ways, is the ultimate renewable. In South Australia alone, over 4.6 million tonnes of carbon is sequestered each year from the atmosphere. We know those opposite are not interested in things that might sequester carbon or anything to do with climate but, here on this side, as governments continue to seek to decarbonise their economies, forestry has a key role to play in achieving this aspiration.

It is for these reasons that the Malinauskas Labor government is rolling out a record level of investment within the industry. Some of the highlights that we have delivered include $16 million over 10 years for the construction of the Forestry Centre of Excellence. The establishment of this centre will create a long-term research and development capability in Mount Gambier for the industry. I am pleased that the physical building will be opened in the coming months, and all key staff have now been appointed.

We provided $2.346 million for the delivery of eight new AI-powered fire towers, providing landscape-level fire detection and safeguarding the Limestone Coast's 120,000-hectare forest plantation estate, as well as supporting fire protection for all of our local communities. Also, $2 million has enabled the delivery of a South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Master Plan. This critical funding has delivered a wide range of projects to the benefit of the forest industry, including:

the Fennell Forestry electric log truck trial;

the State of South Australia's Plantation Forests Report;

the campaign This is Wood Work;

the Workforce Development Program in partnership with the Green Triangle Hub. This allowed for the appointment of a workforce development officer for the forest industry;

the Treated Timber Product Stewardship prospectus; and

Decarbonising the Freight Task—Driving to Net Zero project in partnership with the South Australian Forest Products Association and Tabeel Trading.

The state government has invested $450,000 with Tree Breeding Australia to assist with the construction of a purpose-built dedicated gene conservation and tree improvement facility in Mount Gambier. The government has committed $5.5 million as part of a total $28 million investment for the Limestone Coast Regional Connectivity Program, which will deliver 27 mobile sites around the Limestone Coast and assist the forest industry, other industries and our local communities.

While the shadow minister, like much of the opposition, continues to struggle to find Mount Gambier on the map despite it being our second largest city, let alone show any interest in announcing any forest-related policies, the Malinauskas Labor government will continue to work side by side with the forest industry in South Australia.

I would like to thank the Forest Industries Advisory Council, the South Australian Forest Products Association, the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub and the Green Triangle Fire Alliance for their ongoing engagement and advocacy for the industry and the work that they have all provided over the last almost four years to achieve these election commitments.