The Tasmanian government has doubled down on its support for a native hardwood industry. The Rockliff government passed a new “red tape-busting Bill” yesterday.
According to Eric Abetz, Tasmania’s Minister for Business, Industry and Resources (a super-portfolio which now includes forestry), the Forestry (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill is “just common sense.”
“The legislation passed the lower house two months ago, and with it having now passed both houses, we can look towards implementation,” Minister Abetz said. “This is important legislation to grow the forestry sector by streamlining processes and modernising and simplifying the administration of private timber reserves and Private Forests Tasmania.”
Wood Central understands that the suite of reforms includes:
- Removing requirements for a private forest service levy to be paid on establishing new plantations on areas of previously cleared land.
- Streamlining the application processes for minor boundary changes to private timber reserves.
For Minister Abetz, the changes would see the PFT board given powers to waive the private forest service levy under special circumstances such as flood or fire: “Making these important changes will reduce administrative costs and time for landowners seeking to increase timber production.”
In April, Wood Central revealed that long-time Australian forestry champion Eric Abetz was appointed to the super-portfolio, serving an industry “that has always been close to my heart.”
Mr Abetz, who lives in Franklin, is a Tasmanian timber stalwart and is a staunch defender of native and plantation forests – and previously served as Australia’s Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation in John Howard’s last ministry.
The Tasmanian Liberal government has long supported native forestry, with Premier Rockliff becoming the first (and so far only) head of government to openly criticise the Victorian and WA state governments for closing down the industry.
- In March, Wood Central covered the Premier Rockliff’s timber policies in the lead-up to the state election. Click here to find out more.
