Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-10-20 Daily Xml

Contents

Question Time

Forestry Plantations

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development a question regarding new forestry plantations.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Under the federal government funding commitment of $86 million to assist with the establishment of new forestry plantations, the federal government will fund 40 per cent of the government contribution to the grants programs in each state or territory and the participating state or territory is expected to fund 60 per cent of the government contribution. My questions to the minister are:

1. What funding was allocated in this year's state budget to this program?

2. Are you committed to securing an agreement with the federal government under this program?

3. How much funding will the state government commit in future budgets to secure an agreement with the federal government under this program?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:20): The state government is continually looking for opportunities to increase timber supply in a sustainable way, taking into account all users of other resources, such as water. We will continue to work with the new federal government to explore any opportunities to work together as well as with industry to this end.