Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[10.28 a.m.]
The native forest logging industry is in its death throes. Tasmania’s native sawlog supply falls off a cliff in mid-2027, just as the industry will be captured by new national environmental laws and current contracts end. Your second 100-day plan commits you, by 9 March, to signing binding term sheets until 2040, with Forestry Tasmania’s existing customers. Signing any new binding agreement among so much uncertainty about the industry’s future is a massive sovereign risk. Tasmanians could be on the hook for hundreds of millions in payouts to private companies if federal law reforms mean wood-supply contracts can’t be fulfilled. Premier, you should walk away from this destructive industry entirely. But will you at least commit to doing the right thing for Tasmania and not signing any agreements with sawmillers prior to the finalising of national environmental standards?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course, the federal government has announced major changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, including the creation of new national environmental standards. As part of these changes, Tasmania’s long-standing Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) that has provided excellent forestry outcomes and certainty for the industry will end, as you point to, on 1 July next year, 2027. From that point, Tasmania’s forest management system will need to be re-accredited under the federal system.
I’m advised that Tasmania is well placed for that shift. Our forest management system already delivers the kind of outcomes the national standards are aiming for: strong environmental safeguards, science-based decision-making, and a balanced approach to managing our forests for the long term. That has been the case for some time. The Regional Forest Agreement has served Tasmania and the many people employed within the industry well.
I’m very mindful of your first question and the statement you made within the question about jobs and families. We’ve had that discussion in the public service. We’re very mindful of it. We also need to be very mindful that, as you termed it, almost with the stroke of a pen there are people out of work, and that families, livelihoods and regional communities are impacted. We need to be very careful about that.
I understand the intent of the question. Sustainable Timber Tasmania is negotiating long‑term wood supply contracts for native and plantation saw logs ‑ again, mid-2027 expiry. The federal changes have meant that more time is needed to work through these matters. The government has a responsibility to manage transition risk responsibly. The industry also needs very clear visibility after 1 July 2027, you’d appreciate, about operating conditions to make commercial decisions.
Naturally, Tasmanian taxpayers need protection as well, but industry also needs that certainty. We’re working through ensuring that we can, as best as possible, achieve balance. We need both industry certainty and protection of Tasmanian taxpayers.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – Honourable Speaker, a supplementary question?
The SPEAKER – Yes.
Dr WOODRUFF – To the question, the federal minister has made it clear that they won’t be coming in and bailing out Tasmania. There’s a sovereign risk issue here. Will you commit to not resigning or making any legal commitments on wood supply contracts until the national environmental standards are known and the impacts on forestry in Tasmania are known?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for the supplementary. As I say, we need to work through the federal government changes. We’re aware of the expiration of the contracts on 1 July 2027. We need to balance protection for Tasmanian taxpayers, and we need to balance that also with providing industry certainty moving forward as well. This is a very sensitive issue in rural and regional Tasmania, in Circular Head and elsewhere.
Dr Woodruff – Tasmanians deserve to know where their money will go.
The SPEAKER – Dr Woodruff, you can ask another question. Allow the Premier to respond, please.
Mr ROCKLIFF – We need to avail ourselves of all the information and take a very considered view to Canberra. Also, there are negotiations between our federal counterparts, being the federal Labor government ‑=
The SPEAKER – The honourable Premier’s time has expired.
