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In December, I released a policy statement indicating new directions for sustainable forest management. It included improvements to the regional forestry agreement process, a commitment to prepare Victoria's first "state of the forest" report, and a forest and forest industries plan.
We were elected with a commitment to completing the two remaining regional
forestry agreements for Victoria, and the Federal Government agreed to
extend the deadline for their conclusion to 31 March.
I have used the opportunity provided by that extension to deliver
my election promise of opening up the regional forestry agreement processes
to take better account of industry and community issues and concerns. Victorians
have the opportunity to have their say on the two outstanding agreements
by submitting their views to independent panels.
Contrary to the conclusion of The Age's environment reporter, Claire Miller ("No, Minister -- not good enough", on this page last Thursday), the community has embraced the improved consultation process, as evidenced by the 1200-plus submissions received.
In the lead-up to 31 March, I am bound to honor timber supply contracts, and a temporary cessation on harvesting in areas previously assessed for their values and agreed to by the state and Commonwealth is not possible.
While the community continues to demand wood and wood products, the challenge is to deliver a sustainable timber industry. My department has produced better and more information on how much harvesting our forests can sustain. This, together with the need to protect our most precious areas of forests through additions to reserves, will mean that significant areas will be taken out of timber production at the conclusion of the agreements.
Claire Miller, on the one hand, criticises the adequacy of proposed reserves and, on the other, criticises associated potential for job losses.
The Government is committed to jobs in regional and rural Victoria and the social infrastructure of small country towns. We appreciate the role the timber industry plays in small towns and we're examining ways to provide support for rural jobs and communities.
The forest and forest industries plan will be aimed at reinforcing a sustainable timber industry and at job creation. It will look at issues including value-adding opportunities, better marketing of timber products, recreation and tourism in state forests, and opportunities to use our forest resources for carbon sequestration and storage forestry. The plan will be completed by the end of this year, after extensive consultation.
The long-term future of Victoria's timber industry must take into account public and private plantation and farm forestry. The Government will produce an integrated plan based closely on supply and demand forecasts for forest products. This will include an increased emphasis on the role of private forestry.
This is a first for Victoria, and certainly far from "business as usual".
This Government is committed to openness, participation and partnership
with the full range of forest interest groups. Transparent processes
can restore faith in the state's capacity to manage our precious forest
resources
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