Thursday, 14 November 2019

 Dr RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:15): My question is for the Minister for Resources. Minister, I welcome the decision the government has made to end native forest logging in Victoria, along with the very important transition plan. It is the right decision. However, we are concerned the Leadbeater’s possum could actually be under greater risk, with the opening of the moratorium reserves for logging in exchange for other parts of less important habitat. We understand that to maintain current supply levels logging over the next five years is likely to be even more concentrated in the mountain ash forests of the Central Highlands and that the immediate protection areas include very few of the areas that are currently slated for logging, leaving areas of Leadbeater’s possum habitat at immediate risk of destruction. Can the minister inform the house how many hectares of Leadbeater’s possum habitat will be opened up for logging under this plan that was not previously available for logging?

 Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Resources) (12:16): I am most confused by this question because you addressed it to me as the Minister for Resources. There was reference to the moratorium on gas. Now you are talking about—

Dr Ratnam interjected.

Ms SYMES: Right. And now you are asking me about the Leadbeater’s possum. I reckon the best response to that is for me to take it on notice, because I need to work out exactly what you are asking.

Dr Ratnam: I am happy to repeat the question. Was it the noise level? I asked about the Leadbeater’s possum habitat.

The PRESIDENT: The minister offered to give you a written response.

 Dr RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:17): Minister, making sure workers and communities are treated fairly in the transition away from native forest logging is obviously incredibly important. Can the minister clarify whether workers and business operators who want to start exiting the industry now will be able to receive transition funding immediately and, if they do so, whether logging volumes available will then be reduced to match or whether those logging areas will just be logged by someone else, resulting in no net benefit for the environment?

The PRESIDENT: Dr Ratnam, the supplementary was not apposite to the substantive question. I am happy to give you another crack at trying to ask the supplementary.

Ms Symes interjected.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, I am always happy to give someone another go.

Dr RATNAM: Minister, can you clarify whether workers and business operators who want to start exiting logging of Leadbeater’s possum forests will now be able to receive transition funding immediately and, if they do so, whether logging volumes available will then be reduced to match or whether those logging areas will still be logged by someone else, resulting in no net benefit for the environment?

 Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Resources) (12:18): I need time to decipher all of your questions. I am going to take them on notice, and I will get you a written response.