Dr WOODRUFF – Our reporting to the national carbon accounts under the land use, land use change and forestry sector includes the carbon emission withdrawals of forests in Tasmania, balanced with the emissions produced by forestry in Tasmania. How much does the forestry sector emit in the logging and burning process annually, plus annual emissions from bushfires? If you can give me the last five years, that would be fine.
Mr DUIGAN – Thank you. It might take a little bit to find that detail. Secretary, have you got something in front of you there? No, you don’t. So we’re looking for total emissions out of –
Dr WOODRUFF – No, the total emissions are already in the report in the national carbon accounting process, but it’s a combination of both what is sequestered and what is emitted. I’m looking to –
Mr DUIGAN – You just want the emission number?
Dr WOODRUFF – Yes, because the sequestration is the other part of that.
Ms RUSSELL – We have a couple of really detailed appendices at the back of our greenhouse gas emissions report which identify land use and land use change by sub-sector and shows where there’s been positive emissions and negative emissions. Those sub-sectors are in both the report and there’s a description as well in the other sub-sector, but as to adding it up right this second, no, I can’t respond to that.
Mr DUIGAN – Does that that give the detail you are seeking to find?
Ms RUSSELL – I’m just getting a little bit of advice coming through around that.
Dr WOODRUFF – Real-time advice as we’re talking. We’ll just talk a little bit longer. It would be helpful if the minister could point directly to that information, or if it’s not there, provide the information on notice. Do you want to wait for that advice? I’ll move on to another question. Or can I take that on notice? What’s the best thing to do?
Mr DUIGAN – We’ll take it on notice and try to get it back to you before the close of the proceedings.
Dr WOODRUFF – Yesterday, you suggested I ask you this question here today. Do you have any advice on the 39,000 ha of additional forests in the Future Potential Production Forest (FPPF) land that the government is planning on going into logging? Has there been an estimate of that land area and the carbon emissions that would be released? I understand that would need to be part of the process that Parks would need to give to the Minister for Business, Industry and Resources.
Mr DUIGAN – Other way round.
Dr WOODRUFF – Business, Industry and Resources would need to give to you. I’m assuming that the Climate Change Office would need to provide the information to Parks about the values of that estate. Do you have information about what the carbon emissions would be if those 39,000 ha were logged?
Mr DUIGAN – The Department of State Growth is working through the preliminary steps required to undertake the conversion of Future Potential Production Forest land under the Forestry (Rebuilding the Forest Industry) Act 2014. Under the act, an assessment of conservation values needs to be undertaken, as has been discussed. This has not yet been undertaken. The minister, Mr Abetz, is in the phase of obtaining detailed information under section 7.2 of the Forestry (Rebuilding the Forest Industry) Act. Let me see. No, it hasn’t yet been written.
Dr WOODRUFF – So, it hasn’t happened yet?
Mr DUIGAN – As this is a legislative process, I’ll be making a decision based on my obligations under the relevant act. Emissions from land use, forest change and forestry emissions is attributable to multiple factors. No, it’s this process, sorry: emissions are reported in accordance with international frameworks. The data is calculated and is the responsibility of the Australian Government. The Climate Change Office analyses the specific data relating to Tasmania on a yearly basis and presents findings within the annual greenhouse gas report, as referenced by Sarah Russell. The Climate Change Office monitors and evaluates impacts of all greenhouse gas emissions produced on‑island, including land use, land use change and forestry. The data is used to inform initiatives and actions that will lower our emissions and build resilience. It’s also used to identify the greatest opportunities for emissions reductions and is reflected in the Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plans.
Tasmania’s managed forest estate has a role to play in reducing Tasmania’s emissions by sequestering carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it in wood products, while also providing a renewable low‑emissions alternative to emissions‑intensive building materials.
So, a legislative process. Data calculation is the responsibility of the Australian Government.
Dr WOODRUFF – But you still have to provide the information to them, so will you be doing an assessment of those emissions for the 39,000 ha? It’s one of the requirements you just read out. The legislative requirement is to monitor the impacts. One of the impacts would be 39,000 ha being released for logging and burning. That would be a source of emissions.
Mr DUIGAN – Sure, and I will be committing to whatever is legislatively required.
