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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-06-03 Daily Xml
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ForestrySA

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (14:11): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The forward sale of ForestrySA's plantations in the Green Triangle to OneFortyOne Plantations Pty Ltd was completed in October 2012, and the five-year plantation management agreement with the company ends in October 2017. In order to maintain the contract after 2017, ForestrySA needs to become much more competitive. As members may be aware, last week voluntary separation packages were offered to up to 60 ForestrySA employees in the South-East and Mount Lofty Ranges. No staff changes are planned for ForestrySA's Mid North operations.

The state government has kept its promise to ForestrySA workers that there would be no forced redundancies, and the workers who do wish to leave have been offered very fair redundancy conditions. To support staff, ForestrySA will work with unions and the local community to identify opportunities to retrain staff to meet shortages of forest workers, specifically, harvest operators and truck drivers. Other programs will include retirement and financial planning sessions and training in interview and job-seeking skills. This offer is aimed at reducing staff in a fair and dignified way and the terms being offered are very generous by industry standards.

It is important to note that, although ForestrySA is reducing its direct workforce, the timber industry is experiencing one of its busiest periods in years, and there are many jobs being offered in the South-East. There is now a strong base of private contractors performing these forest management functions for a range of plantation owners, including ForestrySA. I am advised that former ForestrySA workers who accept a voluntary separation package will not be barred from applying for or taking work with private providers of forestry services.

The state government is also providing up to $27 million in assistance to the private sector for capital investment in the state's timber industry. Up to the time of the recent election, $16.5 million had been approved under the program through grants to six applicants, leaving a balance of $10.5 million. The South East Forestry Partnerships Program has required applicants to match the government's investment on at least a one-to-one basis, resulting in commitments to projects worth $36 million to date. This money for innovation will help secure and create jobs in the South-East, as well as increase the opportunity for us to be able to value add here in South Australia.

ForestrySA has a very important role in fire protection across the South Australian forests and is carefully assessing the impact of its changed staffing arrangements to ensure that all aspects of fire protection are covered. By using its own and contracted resources, ForestrySA will continue to efficiently manage this important community task.

The Chief Executive of ForestrySA has met with the Country Fire Service to discuss plantation fire protection in the Green Triangle and Mount Lofty Ranges. ForestrySA will employ and contract additional firefighters and services to make sure that the plantation estate and the community continue to be protected. ForestrySA has routinely employed experienced summer crew and contractors to top up its fire crews. For example, the Green Triangle fire tower network has been staffed by contractor fire spotters for many years.

Forestry SA has also been talking with other plantation owners about their level of fire preparedness and I am advised these discussions have been very positive. I can assure members here and the people of the South-East that protecting the forests will be front and centre of whatever happens in the future. Some things will change, but firefighting capabilities will remain the same. Since becoming Minister for Forests I have spent a week in Mount Gambier and intend to return there next month for further discussions with forestry workers, their unions, and the member for Mount Gambier. I will continue to talk and work with all parties in the region to make sure that together we will achieve growth, jobs and prosperity for the local area.

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