Timber industry
Mr O’DONOHUE (Eastern Victoria) (12:16): My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Resources and Minister for Regional Development. Minister, I refer you to your media release last Wednesday, 24 April, regarding, and I quote:
… a new allocation … and the development of new timber plantation sites in Gippsland.
Your media release states:
This allocation order, which reduces the overall area available for timber harvesting by 5000 hectares, will not affect VicForests’ ability to meet contracts over the upcoming year.
Minister, can you advise: what is the total cubic metreage of VicForests’ contracts over that coming 12-month period, and will the reduction in the overall area available for timber harvesting by that 5000 hectares mean that the demand for timber will have to be met by VicForests through imported and not Victorian timber resources, in a major blow to local investment and jobs?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Resources) (12:17): I thank Mr O’Donohue for his question. I have got the information on exactly what the contracts are, but I do not have that on me. But it is around about 3000 hectares to deliver on the contracts for the next—
A member interjected.
Ms SYMES: Yes, 3000 hectares. It is a combination of mixed species and blue gum. I can get you the details of it. I am obviously not doing a very good job of retelling it from my memory, but it is around 3000 hectares of native forest that would need to be logged to meet the contracts under the current arrangements.
Mr O’DONOHUE (Eastern Victoria) (12:18): Thank you, Minister, for undertaking to provide that further information. I appreciate it and look forward to receiving that information. Minister, again referring to your media release of last Wednesday, can you confirm that, due to the government’s delays in the release of the new timber release plan, to enable the Heyfield ASH mill to continue operations, Western Australian jarrah and American oak are currently being imported to meet the shortfall in local supply?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Resources) (12:19): That is certainly not the information that I have.