Tasmanians will go to the polls tomorrow, March 23, in what is shaping a critical vote on the future of native forestry – which accounts for 40% of Australia’s hardwood industry, according to some estimates.
Over the past few weeks, Wood Central has covered all sides of the “Forest Wars” and has provided a summary of the major policies below:
The Liberals – the incumbent State Government
Under the 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Make available up to 40,000 hectares of the Future Potential Production Forest “wood bank”
- Make available an additional wood basket of up to 158,000 cubic metres of high-quality sawlog to Tasmanian industry – that’s an annual increase of up to 10%
- Make this new supply available exclusively to existing Tasmanian customers.
- Support our iconic native species timber sector.
- Supercharge on-island processing with an additional $5 million.
For more information about the “Wood Bank,” visit Wood Central’s special feature.
The Labor Party – the major Opposition Party
Labor has pledged to provide security for the thousands of forest industry employees by ensuring open, transparent, and secure access to resources by Tasmanian businesses with investments in Tasmania.
To achieve this, a Tasmanian Labor Government will:
- Stop the current plantation sawlog EOI process being conducted by Sustainable Timbers Tasmania.
- Review the available resources – native forest and plantation – openly and transparently with independent oversight.
- Protect existing Tasmanian businesses and their workers to ensure they are given the highest priority in obtaining long-term, secure contracts for wood supply.
- Develop a framework for prioritising access to Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s wood supply capacity that is in the best interests of the State with a particular reference to regional Tasmania.
- Allowing existing customers to negotiate enforceable contracts on commercial terms for their existing volumes, at minimum until 2040, will give them confidence.
- Ensure the future of the special species sector by creating a standalone Special Timbers Authority funded by the current Community Service Obligation.
For more information about Tasmania Labor’s commitment to match the Liberal Government in extending Wood Supply agreements to 2040, visit Wood Central’s special feature. To find out why the Australian Labor Party is divided on native forestry, review Wood Central’s exclusive.
The Minor Parties: who could form a minority government under a hung parliament.
The Greens
With a new government and the Greens holding the balance of power, it will fight to:
- End the logging and burning of native forests.
- Strengthen the Environmental Laws to protect Tasmania’s Unique Wildlife, Wilderness and Waterways.
- Keep the World Heritage Area and National Parks in Public Hands-free of development.
For more information about the Tasmanian Greens policy, visit Wood Central’s article.
The Jackie Lambie Network
Whilst the Jackie Lambie Network does not have an explicit forestry policy, it promotes “fair trade for Australians” and has been vocal in supporting the preservation of the native forest manufacturing industry as part of its “Restart Manufacturing” campaign.
Cross Bench Impact
On Wednesday, Wood Central revealed that 57 candidates, including crucial independents and minor parties, had signed the Forest Pledge – pledging to reverse the policies of the major parties and push for a ban on native forestry in the State; they include:
Bass
- Alexander, Lara (IND)
- Ball, Lauren (GRN)
- Barnett, Carol (GRN)
- Davenport, Jack (IND)
- Davis, Ivan (AJP)
- Fittler, Jack (GRN)
- Hall, Tom (GRN)
- Hendry, Calum (GRN)
- Layton-Bennett, Anne (GRN)
- Rosol, Cecily (GRN)
- Walker, Tim (IND)
Braddon
- Briggs, Darren (GRN)
- Garland, Craig (IND)
- Kersey, Sarah (GRN)
- King, Julia (AJP)
- Lovell, Leeya (GRN)
- McLoughlin, Michael (GRN)
- Morrow, Erin (GRN)
- Ward, Susanne (GRN)
- Wilden, Petra (GRN)
Clark
- Campbell, Sam (LN)
- Bayley, Vica (GRM)
- Burnet, Helen (GRN)
- Davies, Casey (AJP)
- Formby, Frank (LN)
- Hickey, Sue (IND)
- Hoare, Trenton (GRN)
- Johnston, Kristie (IND)
- Jones, Peter (GRN)
- Lohberger, Ben (IND)
- Nunn, David (LN)
- Shelley, Janet (GRN)
- Vogel, Stefan (IND)
- Volf, Nathan (GRN)
- Zalotockyj, James (GRN)
- Zollner, Ranae (LN)
Franklin
- Cambers-Smith, Jenny (GRN)
- Campbell, Christine (GRN)
- Cordover, Gideon (GRN)
- Cordover, Tamar (IND)
- Darko, Jade (GRM)
- Delaney, Martine (LN)
- Ellison, Bob (IND)
- Fitzgerald, Owen (GRN)
- Glade-Wright, Clare (IND)
- Mrosek, Lukas (GRN)
- Thomas-Wurth, Jehni (AJP)
- Woodruff, Rosalie (GRN)
Lyons
- Allan, Alistair (GRN)
- Badger, Tabatha (GRN)
- Brown, Craig (GRN)
- Branch-Allen, Jenny (IND)
- Gralton, Anna Megan (AJP)
- Houghton, Mitch (GRN)
- Miller, Glenn (GRN)
- Rubenach-Quinn, Hannah (GRN)
- Whisson, Gary (GRN)
