Ralph Babet (Victoria, United Australia Party) Share this | Hansard source

BABET (—) (): My question is for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister Watt. We've seen the unscientific decisions made by the Western Australian and Victorian state governments to shut down native forestry in their states. Australia is already a net timber importer, and, because we'll be producing less timber locally, from which countries are Australia going to source their timber floors, timber decks, timber furniture, wood to build houses, et cetera, especially since we're going to be importing so many more migrants? Do these countries practise sustainable forestry where at least one tree is planted for every tree harvested, as we currently do in Australia? Where's our wood going to come from?