Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Milne for her question. Of course, the Tasmanian forestry industry is, as recognised, undergoing a restructuring and reshaping brought about by several key events and circumstances, which is about a decline in the traditional market and an agreement between environmental NGOs, forestry industry organisations and the CFMEU; the Tasmanian Forests Statement of Principles; and of course Gunns Ltd's commercial decision to withdraw from native forest logging.

In response to these, the intergovernmental agreement between Tasmania and the Australian government was signed by the Prime Minister and Premier Giddings in Hobart on 7 August 2011. It provided a $276 million agreement aimed to secure jobs; diversify the economic base for Tasmania; ensure, particularly in relation to the specific issue that Senator Milne has raised, the ongoing sustainability of the forest industry; and achieve environmental outcomes. To that end the intergovernmental agreement does respond to changes in the industry; it is not driving changes in the industry. One of important parts is the independent verification group, convened by Professor Jonathan West, who is assessing the conservation values of the ENGO and nominated 572,000 hectares and assessed reserve areas compatible with good supply guarantees to determine the area of high-conservation-value forests to be given legislative protection through inclusion in formal reserves. So this is the process that is currently being undertaken. Where harvesting work has already begun in specific coupes within the nominated 430,000 hectares, rescheduling will occur as soon as practicable, as a list of coupes that will be harvested will be agreed by the government and statement signatories. (Time expired)