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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-21 Daily Xml
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FORESTRY SOFTWOOD PLANTATIONS

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:16): My question is to the Minister for Forests. Is the minister aware that a Victorian company has been exposed for exporting whole logs from Victorian forests in shipping containers—timber which was supposed to be processed locally within Victoria—and does he agree that this undermines the conclusions drawn from the ACIL Tasman Regional Impact Report into the sale of South Australian forests?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Northern Suburbs) (15:16): I thank the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: I thank the member for the question. I am aware, and this is very much part and parcel of the management of all softwood plantations in Australia. As it occurred with ForestrySA in the not-so-distant past, when local demand is at a low ebb because of a contraction within the local construction industry, export markets are sourced to ensure that contracts can be met, that individuals can continue to be employed in the South-East—particularly in logging and transport—so there is absolutely nothing new in that particular proposition. It is very much part and parcel of astute management of a softwood plantation. It has been done in the past and will continue to be done in the future.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Unley.

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