issue 135
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A weekly online magazine to the timber and forestry industryTRANSCRIPT
Advertising: Tel +61 7 3256 1779 Email: [email protected] 1issuE 135 | 26.07.10 | PAgE
By JIM BOWDEN
THE future of Australia’s productive native forest industry is in the balance as the nation goes to the polls in just 27 days – and its fate may well be determined by the Greens if they are handed the balance of power in the Senate on August 21.Greens and Labor have agreed on a tight swap of preferences in the senate and in marginal seats, which comes as no surprise.Forest industry adversary and Australian Greens leader Bob Brown is on an election campaign to close all native forest logging – in Tasmania and the mainland.Talks between timber industry players are well advanced to end or reduce old-growth
logging in Tasmania, and the big parties are under pressure to unveil a jobs-rescue policy to help the timber workers who will inevitably lose out.“The negotiations between sectors of the timber industry and conservation movement in Tasmania have national implications,” the national president of the Institute of Foresters of Australia Dr Peter Volker told T&F enews.“They are flawed because they are conducted in secret and only one side has anything to give; the conservation movement cannot lose whatever the outcome because its only stake is emotional, not economic or social,” he said.Dr Volker believes a closure of native forest operations in
Balancing actTasmanian negotiations hold key to
fate of nation’s native forest industry
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6481
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Election result may decide fate of native forest industry.
Elections a ‘mixed bag’ for industry
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?Anxiety in the forest
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Tasmania would have a domino affect – threatening the industry across Australia.Australia’s area of productive multiple-use native forests – that is publicly-owned forests available for timber harvesting – is about 9,410,000 ha, or a little over 6% of the nation’s total area of 147,397,000 ha.Not taking into account the western hardwoods already sacrificed in Queensland, and the closure of the Riverina red gum forests, the native forest industry in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia produces more than 1 million cub m of saw logs a year.“And it’s more than log production – it’s thousands of jobs, the maintenance of thousands of kilometres of roads, forest management, fire protection, defense against pestulance, the list goes on,” Dr Volker said.“If this all goes the cost of any form of future forests management will have to come out of the public purse. There has not been enough thought about the consequences.”New Prime Minister Julia Gillard who has been in power less than four weeks has called for an August 21 election and a mandate to support her promise to return Australia to surplus budgeting within three years – two months after she grabbed power from Kevin Rudd in a surprise coup.On forestry, the Gillard government is reluctant to produce a jobs policy before the election because it fears getting its fingers burnt, as Labor did during the 2004
election campaign.While closely watching the consultancy process in Tasmania – and this could take another three months – the government is staying at arm’s length from negotiations and will step in with a jobs package only when it is sure there will be no backlash.The consultancy process is wrestling with what constitutes high-value forests that would warrant complete protection. There is disagreement over details such as whether a forest damaged by fire is still a natural forest or could be classified as re-growth and be logged.At least two marginal seats – Bass and Braddon – are at risk in Tasmania. In 2004, the Labor Party’s then-leader Mark Latham had his campaign badly damaged when John Howard outflanked him on forestry policy. Howard put more emphasis on jobs than trees, and wrested Bass and Braddon from Labor.Labor has already struck a preference deal with the Greens
Peter Volker .. Tasmanian outcome could bring domino affect to Australian native forests.
No early signs offorest jobs policyfrom government
Cont Page 3
From Page 1
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in key marginal seats, including Bass and Braddon.The distribution of Green preferences in the House of Representatives strongly favours Labor whether or not the Green preferences have been directed to Labor. Political observers say all available evidence points to Green supporters being leftish of centre and unlikely to direct preference to the Coalition even when the Greens issue an open preference ticket.For instance, at the 2007 Federal election, the Tasmanian Greens chose not to direct preferences in the five Tasmanian electorates after both the Labor and Liberal Parties declined to stop the proposed Gunns pulp mill. Despite open tickets, Green
preferences in Tasmania still flowed 78.3% to Labor.But the real importance of the deal is in the senate. The decision of Labor and the Greens to swap preferences comes at an election where
Senators elected in 2004 face the electorate.Even if the Greens only re-elect their sitting senators in Tasmania and Western Australia, a re-elected Gillard government would see Labor take seats from the Coalition, and it is the loss of Coalition senators elected in 2004 that will pull the Greens senators into the balance of power.
From Page 2
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Julia Gillard .. withholding decision on forest jobs.
Bob Brown .. an agenda to close all native forests.
Conflict talksbogged downA RESOLUTION to the consultancy process under way in Tasmania over the 25-year forest conflict won’t happen any day soon.Any agreements reached between the forest industry and environmentalists are not expected before the election.Federal forestry minister Tony Burke said the government would be ‘’all ears’’ if a settlement came out of the talks, but rejected suggestions he was involved.NAFI has confirmed negotiations are continuing with conservation groups on a new agreement. “At no stage have these negotiations involved representatives from governments, nor will they,” CEO Allan Hansard said.
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“I CAN’T believe it’s happening. When they attack the forest industry they are attacking real people, real communities.”That’s respected forester Dr Peter Volker’s shocked reaction to events unfolding in Tasmania as industry and conservations seek a deal on native forest harvesting.“And what have the Greens to lose? They won’t lose their jobs. The only thing they can lose is an emotional argument.”Speaking with T&F enews, Dr Volker, national president of the Institute of Foresters of Australia, kept the heat up on the subject: “The negotiations between sectors of the timber industry and conservation movement in Tasmania have national implications. “They are flawed because they are conducted in secret and only one side has anything to give; the conservation movement cannot lose whatever the outcome because its only stake is emotional, not economic or social.“Past negotiations and political expediency have resulted in large tracts of Australia’s productive forests put into conservation reserves with management prescription of benign neglect. Yet this is not enough.“These negotiations, at best, may result in hundreds of job losses, family disruption and a
breakdown in communities for those with an economic stake in forests and rural towns. “Those with an emotional or ideological interest, have no direct financial connection to the rural economy and lose nothing to gain a warm inner
glow because they think they have preserved more forest. “They show no remorse for the loss of employment or sense of self-worth of those who have spent their lives living and working in the forests. Skills in fire management and
other services provided by the forestry workers are priceless and cannot be easily revitalised should we lose them.“I am constantly amazed at the difference between sentiment and action by conservation movement leaders. They advocate transparency, but conduct negotiations in secret; they advocate democracy but ignore the results of elections; they advocate good science but either use poor science or ignore results that don’t suit their agenda; they advocate human rights but ride rough shod over forest workers and their rights; they advocate ‘think globally, act locally”’ when the result of closing Australia’s native forest industry will have far reaching detrimental ramifications in other parts of the world.“Australia is one of the most urbanised countries on the planet and these negotiations will make it more so – what a fantastic result for the environment!”Referring to the ongoing arguments about what constitutes old-growth forests, Dr Volker said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation had a definition for planted forests that could also include all clear fell and burnt forests that are re-sown as regeneration forests – “something we have been doing for the past half century.”
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20
10
JuLY 201026-27: scanTECh 2010 Sawmill Scanning & Optimisation Technologies. Melbourne. www.scantechevents.com
26-27: Wood Energy 2010 (World Reducing Energy Costs & Improving Energy Efficiencies) Melbourne.
26-29: Combined workshop. ATTA / FIAPS / ForestWorks combined annual workshop Hobart. Details: www.atta.org.au
AugusT 20101: National Tree Day
4-6: 9th meeting of Asia Forest Partnership – Indonesia. Forest Governance Challenges Beyond Copenhagen: An Asia-Pacific
Perspective.
sEPTEMBER 20103-5: Canberra Timber & Working With Wood Expo, Exhibition Park in Canberra. Contact: (02) 9974 1393. Fax: (02)9974 3426 Email: [email protected]
6-12: Landcare Week. www.landcareonline.com
7: Woodsolutions 2010. Program for architects, engineers and specifiers. Dockside, Darling Harbour, Sydney. Register interest at www.woodsolutions2010.com.au
7-9: Wood Manufacturing 2010. Rotorua, NZ. Designed for wood processing operations in the dry mill and stand-alone wood manufacturing companies. View: www.woodmanufacturingevents.com
8-10: AFAC bushfire CRC annual conference. Darwin Convention Centre Australia. www.afac10.org
EvENTs
WHAT’S ON?
National Association ofForest Industries Ltd
(Est. 1987)PO Box 239,
Deakin ACT 2600Tel: (02) 6285 3833.Fax: (02) 6285 3855
Web: www.nafi.com.au
SUSTAINABLE.RESPONSIBLE.
The NationalAssociation of Forest
Industries (NAFI)is striving for an
ecologically sustainableAustralian societyachieved through
dynamic,internationally
competitive forestindustries.
NAFI’s mission is torepresent the interests
of members bypromoting theenvironmental
sustainability andthe prosperity ofAustralian forest
industries.
sustainable.responsible.
The National Association of
Forest Industries (NAFI) represents
Australian companies, individuals and
organisations involved in the forestry and
forest products industries.
The National Association of Forest Industries Ltd
(EST.1987)PO Box 239,
Deakin, ACT 2600Tel: (02) 6285 3833Fax: (02) 6285 3855
Web: www.nafi.com.au
NAFI works with state and federal governments to
support the interests of its members while at the same
time improving industry standards and practices,
promoting sustainable forestry management and
educating the broader community on the
economic, environment and social benefits of a strong sustainable
forest industry.
9: Wood solutions 2010 program. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Register interest at www.woodsolutions2010.com.au
9: Australia’s Place in the Changing global Forest Products Market. Future opportunities for global forestry markets including renewable energy; certification and regulation of global markets; ownership and investment in Australia; industry-led solutions for a sustainable industry. Presented by ForestWorks, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. Note: Forest industries liaison dinner in the evening at the Regent Theatre on Collins Street. For information contact: [email protected]
13-15: Manufacturing 2010. Melbourne. Designed for wood processing operations in the dry mill and stand-alone wood manufacturing companies. View: www.woodmanufacturingevents.com
15: Woodsolutions 2010 program. State Library of Queensland, Brisbane. Register interest at www.woodsolutions2010.com.au
15-16: Wood Manufacturing 2010 Profitable Wood Manufacturing - Tooling Technology & Design, Melbourne.
20-21: Wood Manufacturing 2010 Profitable Wood Manufacturing - Tooling Technology & Design Rotorua, NZ.
30-2 October: The Future of Forestry and Forest science Conference. Celebrating the centenary of forestry education in Australia. Sydney Myer Asia Centre Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Melbourne University. Contact: Event Planners Australia forestry. Email: [email protected]
september-October: Centenary of Forestry Education in Australia. Celebrated with various activities and events reflecting on the past, and preparing for the challenges of the future.
OCTOBER 201010-13: Australian Forest growers national conference, Mount Gambier, SA. Chief executive Warwick Ragg. Contact national office: (02) 6162 9000.
15-17: Melbourne Timber and Working with Wood Expo, Melbourne Showground, Melbourne. Contact: (02) 9974 1393. Fax: (02)9974 3426 Email: [email protected]
19-20: MTC global Woodmart: gateway to International Wood Markets. The first ‘one-stop’ selling and buying platform for all suppliers and buyers of wood and wood products. Early bird discount 5%. Organised by the Malaysian Timber Council at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia. Contact: Malaysian Timber Council. Tel: +60 3 9281 1999. Fax: +60 3 9289 8999. Email: [email protected] Web: www.globalwoodmart.my
29: TABMA annual dinner. Luna Park, Sydney. Incorporating the Australian Timber Design Awards presented by TDA NSW. Dinner supported by TDA, NSW Forest Products Association and FWPA. Contact: TABMA on (02) 9277 3172.
NOVEMBER 201017-19: ForestTECh 2010 Tools & Technologies to Improve Forest Planning & Operations, Rotorua,NZ.
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By JIM BOWDEN
SKYE Laris it seems in the new adviser on forestry matters to federal minister Tony Burke. She is also chief of staff at the Canberra office.Ms Laris used to work for the Climate Institute in Sydney, a policy think-tank established to encourage progressive policies for managing climate change in Australia and funded over a five-year cycle by $10 million provided by the philanthropic Poola-Tom Kantor Foundation.We have been unable to officially confirm the appointment of Ms Laris. Timber&Forestry enews has tried unsuccessfully over past weeks to contact Ms Laris. Here administrative and media staff won’t return phone calls.In fact, we have neither seen nor heard much at all about forestry issues since new PM Julia Gillard announced the August 21 poll.We did hear that Ms Laris and her boss sat down with the Australian Timber Industries Federation a few weeks ago to mull over the government’s urgently-anticipated policy on illegal logging but we ran into a dead end on that one as well.The only major forestry-related statement out of Canberra has come from the PM herself who says she prefers to stay at arm’s length from the current brouha over native forests in Tasmania – which is probably a good thing.The Gillard government appears reluctant to produce what it terms a ‘forestry jobs policy’ for Tasmania, which suggests the closure of native forests in that state, a Greens agenda dream, is a done deal.Other than that, and a few statements by Tony Burke – one to the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Conference
in Tasmania that the forest industry has to work out what it wants and “those people who are involved in the discussions reported do not reflect all of industry” – there have been no solid new policies aired by the major parties on a forest and wood products industry worth $23 billion.We certainly won’t overlook the Opposition’s forestry spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck who has been stalking Tony Burke relentlessly on the government’s off-handed treatment of the forest industry in the election campaign, referring to the Labor-Greens pact as a “dirty deal” (see Page 8)Mr Burke, who has been out and about with Julia Gillard explaining his new sustainable population portfolio, is not winning a lot of friends in the bush either. He cancelled a long-standing commitment to address the annual NSW Farmers Association conference attended by about 500 farmers and farm leaders. This came on the back of a cancelled address to the Victorian Farmers
ELECTION 2010
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skye’s the limiton forest policyout of Canberra
Hello .. you’re from where, you are with who, you want what .. ?
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Federation annual conference last month, which coincided with the bloody leadership spill in Canberra.Most of the headlines on forestry have been captured by Greens leader Bob Brown and his comments on the current consultancy process in Tasmania: “A breakthrough in the decades-old community campaign for Tasmania’s wild forests should follow the logging industry’s hard times.“The industry and forest campaigners have had weeks of talks. Both the state and federal governments are in the box seat to help get industrial logging out of native forests and to give national parks protection to the highest conservation-value forests and wildlife habitats.“The Australian Greens are right behind an historic outcome like Geoff Gallop’s Labor government achieved in Western Australia in 2004.” Scary stuff.‘’Even the native forest logging industry in this state and Victoria and New South Wales is in very hard times,’’ says Brown.‘’It requires government involvement at state and federal level. It’s a key issue. It’s a test of the government’s and the opposition’s recognition that biodiversity is a huge economic
and environmental issue.’’The Greens’ national deputy leader Senator Christine Milne reiterated the Greens’ call for forests and woodlands to be protected as carbon stores as part of Australia’s response to climate change.[Prime Minister Julia Gillard wants to create a citizens assembly to forge a national consensus on action on climate change and a commission of experts to help inform its deliberations. She has recommitted Labor to carbon trading, but pledges it will be introduced only when “the Australian economy is ready and when the Australian people are ready”. The government is expected to reveal soon how it will spend $652 million freed up by the dumping of the CPRS in
April].As the election campaign builds heat, a national swing of 2.3% is required for a change of government; the Opposition needs 17 seats to win power.While the polls have tipped
a strong early dominance by Labor if an election were held now, the key battleground states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria will be pivotal in determining the eventual outcome with mining, jobs and the economy central to concerns in those regional marginal seats.Some election experts have suggested up to seven Queensland seats held by Labor could be in danger of falling to the Opposition, while as many as five NSW Labor seats are under threat either from the Greens or the Opposition.Neither of the PM aspirants have ventured into the rural heartland as yet – or walked in a forest or talked with a timber worker.
Tony Burke .. slow response on illegal logging issue.
SCIENTISTS convening in Bali expressed a range of concerns over a proposed mechanism for mitigating climate change through forest conservation.But some remained hopeful the idea could deliver long-term protection to forests, ease the transition to a low-carbon economy, and generate benefits to forest-dependent people. Presenting at the annual Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, scientists
and policy experts warned that the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) program outlined in international climate talks could fail to achieve the desired outcome of protecting forests; it could have a detrimental impacts on biodiversity and local livelihoods if it isn’t properly designed or excludes critical safeguards.Some researchers argued that the economics of REDD may
fall short of competing with returns from other forms of land use, including logging and plantation development, while others said that a successful REDD program could undermine wildlife-friendly farming approaches, promote conversion of low carbon landscapes for industrial tree-planting projects, and shift conservation priorities toward carbon-dense ecosystems.
ELECTION 2010
From Page 6
government slow on forest policies
Warning on forest carbon payments
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THE announcement by Prime Minister Gillard of a preference swap deal with the Greens is a disaster for Tasmania’s forestry industry, says federal Coalition spokesman for forestry Senator Richard Colbeck.“Preferences do not come for free. Labor must explain how many jobs were traded away as part of this dirty, backroom deal,” Senator Colbeck said.“Labor has a strong track record in producing policy to bring down Tasmania’s forestry industry. Their 2004 election policy would have been an unmitigated disaster if they had won government.“Environment Minister Peter Garrett has for many years coveted the demise of Tasmanian’s forestry sector. And we know Forestry Minister Tony Burke was secretly slinking
around Tasmania a couple of weeks ago following his part in the backroom knifing of Kevin Rudd.“What backroom dealing has Minister Burke been doing with the Greens and their fringe group friends?”Senator Colbeck said secret Labor sources – “most likely Minister Burke’s shady operatives” – had informed mainland media that Labor was reluctant to release its policy for Tasmania’s forests until after the election.“Now we know Labor and the Greens have done a dirty, backroom deal it is crucial Labor comes clean on its plans for Tasmania’s forestry industry jobs.“Labor must explain how many jobs will be done away with under its devastating forestry
policy and it must explain what it will do for rural and regional communities destroyed under its plan.“The electorate deserves to know Labor’s plan for the forest industry well before election day. It will be too late afterwards when the Greens
possibly take balance of power in the senate.”The government has distanced itself from the forest negotiations in Tasmania. A Labor source has said the negotiations had reached a level of cooperation between interested parties ‘’that no one would have thought possible. There’s a willingness to reach a settlement”.‘’It’s [government intervention] not going to happen unless everyone’s in the boat this time,’’ a senior government source said.‘’We got burnt last time,” he said referring to the 2004 Labor campaign in Tasmania when Mark Latham was outflanked on his forestry policy by John Howard.
Senator Colbeck .. preference swap deal a disaster.
ELECTION 2010
Cont Page 11
Labor must come clean on forests
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FORESTRY Tasmania community liaison officers will take possession of more than 10,000 seedlings this month in preparation for Schools Tree Day on July 30 and National Tree Day on August 1.he seedlings will be made available free of charge to schools and community groups as an ongoing community service by Forestry Tasmania and groups are invited to contact their local FT district office to participate.Forestry Tasmania assistant nursery manager Carlton Cox said this year’s seedling total would bring the number donated to an impressive 33,000 since FT started participating in National Tree Day activities in 2006.“The seedlings have been cultivated at the forest nursery at Perth [20 km south of Launceston] with seed from the Tasmanian Seed Centre,” Mr Cox said.This year they include 11 species suited to different locations, including the cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii), a Tasmanian endemic suitable
for cold conditions and tolerant of wet soils which grows to 12-18 m.
Others include Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), which is very adaptable and prefers well-drained soil and cool conditions and silver gum (Eucalyptus cordata), endemic to southern Tasmania and varying from 3-18 m.
Mr Cox said for those who didn’t have the space for large trees the nursery had cultivated a variety of shrubs.
They include the sticky hop bush (Dodonea viscose), a 2-3 m shrub, and manuka or tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium) seedlings which grow to a tall, bushy hardy shrub 2-5 m or taller.
Other species of seedlings include Morrisby’s gum (Eucalyptus morrisbyi ), white gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), scented paperbark (Melaleuca squarrosa), lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon pallidus), coastal tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum) and white kunzea (Kunzea ambigua).
Timber & Forestry e-news is the most authoritative and quickest deliverer of news and special features to the forest and forest products industries in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. Weekly distribution is over 6,400 copies, delivered every Monday. Advertising rates are the most competitive of any industry magazine in the region. Timber&Forestry e-news hits your target market – every week, every Monday!
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fOrEsTry
Free seedlings innational tree dayplanting program
Seedlings for National Tree Day .. Cressy High School farm manager Nick Goss with Grade 10 students Sarah Casey, Gary Musicka and Dylan Cavenagh and agricultural science teacher Andrew Dilger.
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FORESTRY Tasmania will maintain its focus on providing work for forests contractors by identifying new domestic and international markets for wood products.General manager operations Paul Smith says the economic and social benefits of the export shipment to China have been overshadowed by the fumigation issue.“The shipment put $1.5 million into the pockets of contractors at a time when the industry is beginning to recover from the collapse of MIS companies and depressed demand for lower quality products,” Mr Smith said.“There is no question that the international market is beginning to recover, driven by increased demand from China.”Mr Smith said, however, there were important lessons learned from the public concern about the use of methyl bromide to fumigate softwood logs, as required by Chinese customs.“We have listened to the community and decided that in future we will avoid the use of methyl bromide in Tasmania,” he said.“Clearly, there is community
anxiety about venting in port, and our experience over the past week shows that offshore fumigation can be delayed by weather and sea conditions. We were fortunate to be able to load additional logs to offset the increased shipping costs associated with the delays.“The best option is to find alternative markets for the softwood – and part of the answer lies in the rising pricing for softwood pulp and we have already sold an additional three to four thousand tonnes locally to be wood chipped.”Mr Smith said exports of low quality hardwood peeler logs would continue.
“These don’t require fumigation, and these shipments keep around 350 contractors employed. As we have said previously, we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to maintain work for contractors.”Mr Smith said Forestry Tasmania aimed to extract
maximum value for every piece of timber harvested.“The sawlogs are processed here by local sawmillers. Solid wood is processed here by Ta Ann. Pulp wood is wood chipped, and the remainder is available for export.”Forestry Tasmania is anticipating the next shipment will be scheduled towards the end of August and will contain hardwood logs not requiring fumigation.FT is working to develop strong relationships with Chinese customers to ensure this valuable export market continues to grow.
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Value in wood shipments to ChinaForestry Tasmania maintains focus on exports
Wood exports .. putting dollars back into pockets of forest contractors.
Paul Smith .. Forestry Tasmania aims to extract maximum value for every piece of timber harvested.
‘There is no question that the international market is
beginning to recover, driven by increased demand from
China’ - Paul smith
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The Herald Sun’s Andrew Bolt says after this election, no government will be able to pass a law against the Opposition’s objection without the support of the Greens, and Greens alone.
“Never before has this party had so much power – and so much opportunity to finally inflict on us some of the policies
that so many innocent voters have treated as a just-dreaming position statement, rather than a deliberate manifesto for the de-industrialisation of our economy and the tribalising of our society.
“This now is the real issue: how much of our future did Labor sell off just to get these Greens’ preferences?”
“IF there is to be a joint message for some sort of consensus coming from Tasmania on forestry issues that consensus has not been reached. If it is reached we’ll listen .. if we have the privilege to be in government at that point.”This was the view expressed by forestry minister Tony Burke at the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Conference this month.Mr Burke said: “A media release from one of my parliamentary colleagues got emailed to me yesterday that said, ‘Minister Burke needs to come clean on all the negotiations involved with the table around forestry’, which is a really easy thing to do because I’m not around the table in negotiating forestry policy. It’s as simple as that.“There have been discussions – and this has been in the media for a long time – between forestry groups and different sections of the forestry industry in Tasmania.“There have been other meetings that some of those groups have had with environmental groups and there have been meetings that environmental groups have had between themselves. I’m not at the table for any of those things. Nor do I think I should be.”Mr Burke said there were new challenges in forestry: the
woodchip market in exports was not what it was even 12 months ago.“My view has been if we do reach a settlement, if you do have that sort of proposal, bring it to government and we will have a look at it. But that’s it.“I’m not at the table driving a new negotiation for those changes. Industry has to work out what they want and those people who are involved in the discussions reported do not reflect all of industry. They are a part of industry and if a proposal does come back there is a level of consultation that would have to be worked through with those industry groups and sectors that are not within those discussions.“But who is in those discussions is a matter for those involved in
those discussions themselves. It is not something that I am driving but I do have the view, different to the media release that went out, that if some sort of consensus does come forward then I think we ought to be willing to have a look at
it. I think that’s the right thing to do.”
Mr Burke said he suspected a timeline on the outcome of a consensus would be well past any election timeframe. “If a consensus does emerge you’ve got to be mature enough to say we’ll have a look at it and see if we have a role to play.”
Mr Burke said there was a way the government operated .. “I think if you saw the way Prime Minister Julia Gillard operated during the negotiations on the mining tax then you would see exactly how we operate.
“That is that we’re not at the table to be talking at people. When we are at a table we’re listening. There is no significant change to forestry that is being driven by government in any way.”
Burke responds to forest issues in Tasmania
ELECTION 2010
From Page 8
‘industry has to work out what it wants’
Federal Minister for Forestry Tony Burke (right) presents the 2009 Commonwealth Forestry Award (Southeast Asia and Pacific) to DrJerry Leech for his contribution to forest leadership and education. The presentation was made during the Forest Futures conference in Canberra last November.
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INdusTry NEws
Cont Page 13
strategy recognises plantation timber as a legitimate form of agricultural croppingA STRATEGY aimed at supporting the future expansion of the Queensland’s $4 billion forest and timber industry and increasing employment in that sector was released last week.The Minister for Primary Industries Tim Mulherin said the new strategy would see the state government step up its encouragement of increased investment in the timber plantation sector. ”The Queensland Timber Plantation Strategy 2020 signals a new direction for the government,” Mr Mulherin said.“It establishes a fundamental change in the role of government from direct ownership of timber plantations to one of leadership and strategic direction setting.”The recent sale of the state’s plantation estate to the private
sector had opened the way for a more commercially focused approach to timber plantations, Mr Mulherin said.The aim of the strategy is to provide an investor-ready environment for a competitive, sustainable timber plantation sector. Over the next 10 years, the government will concentrate on five core areas to support new investment: new land-use planning framework; legislative and policy reform; investment initiatives; industry development support; and community education Mr Mulherin said the timber plantation sector offered real investment potential. New investment opportunities were supported by a positive market outlook for timber products driven by strong population growth and increasing demand
for housing and other timber-based products.The new land-use planning framework will recognise timber plantations as a legitimate form of agricultural cropping for general land use planning purposes.
A timber plantation development assessment code will be established to bring timber plantations more in line with long-term agricultural cropping activities in Queensland’s planning framework. ”We will also seek to remove any impediments to timber plantation investment and growth in Queensland legislation and administrative systems,” Mr Mulherin said.The Queensland Tree Tenure System is currently being reviewed and the Timber Utilisation and Marketing Act 1987 has been reviewed with a recommendation to repeal the Act.Mr Mulherin said the government was delivering targeted industry development
Tim Mulherin .. encouraging investment in plantation sector.
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INdusTry NEws
through investment in priority plantation research and the resourcing of industry development officers to help build the capacity of the sector. The strategy also includes working with the timber plantation sector, prospective investors and peak bodies to identify, clarify and support new market opportunities for timber plantations. These include potential opportunities arising from international and/or national emission trading schemes, voluntary emission offsets and bioenergy opportunities. As part of the follow through work required to implement this strategy a DEEDI led
working group, consisting of key stakeholders including the LGAQ and Timber Queensland, will be formed to assist the development of a standard
code within the Queensland Planning Provisions under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 to ensure that the codes final application throughout
the regions of Queensland is workable for all parties.Timber Queensland says the strategy provides a road map for the development of the state’s plantation industry“We are particularly heartened by the government’s acknowledgement that plantation timber is a legitimate form of agricultural cropping,” chief executive Rod McInnes said.“In addition, the development of a Plantation Development Assessment Code within the Queensland Planning Provisions will ensure that unnecessary planning delays don’t occur which will, in turn, improve certainty and encourage new investment in the plantation industry,” he said
Providing an investor-ready environmentfor a competitive timber plantation sector
Strategy a road map for development of Queensland’s plantation industry.
From Page 12
PEFC global chief for forest conferenceIN a major coup for the Australian forest, wood, paper and timber products industries, the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have committed members of their global leadership teams to speak at an industry conference in Melbourne in September.“The global president of the PEFC William V. Street, based in the US, has already confirmed he will attend and FSC is in the process of determining who will join Mr Street on stage,” said Michael Hartman, chief executive of ForestWorks which is presenting the conference for the third year running, with the support of major industry stakeholders.The conference – Australia’s Place in the Changing Global Forest Products Market – on September 9 will follow on the heels of the federal election.“This is a major conference, and with global speakers from
the certification schemes and Australian companies and stakeholders discussing the key issues of markets, investment and community issues, this will again be a significant event,” Mr Hartman said.The industry is facing a number of significant issues at the moment, one stakeholder referring to the industry being at a ‘tipping point’.“This conference and the related events – the investor seminar presented by First Super on September 8, the industry liaison dinner on September 9 and the ForestWorks skills and employment council meeting on September 10 – will ensure key leaders are able to engage with the whole forest, wood, paper and timber products industry,” Mr Hartman said.Designed to motivate and educate, the conference program has been developed after close consultation with industry associations, company executives, unions, forest
contractors and workers and politicians from both sides of Parliament.The conference will focus on three key themes:• Emerging forest products markets with the capacity to scan global opportunities, including renewable energy.• Investment – how stimulate greater growth in the industry with short and long-term visions directed at putting more trees in the soil to combat future wood
shortages.• Community interests of the broader stakeholder groups that support forest activity and product innovation, carbon positives, and a serious assessment of global certification schemes.“We see the conference as an educational service to industry,” Mr Hartman said.“We are essentially creating an educational platform and we’re prepared to invest more than $100,000 to make it work.”Mr Hartman said a three delegates for the price of two arrangement should encourage industry to bring a staff member from the shop floor or from bush operations to the conference.Further speaker announcements will be made shortly.Conference registration details can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or by visiting www.forestworks.com.au• See notice Page 2.
Michael Hartman .. conference will engage industry leaders.
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“IF Julia Gillard’s deal with the Greens is real, we’re looking down the barrel of a carbon tax on everything – and I’m sure most in the community are unaware of the implications of this.”We were speaking about climate change with a timber industry sage on the phone from Melbourne.“You would have to be a real believer in climate change to pay an additional tax on everything you consume,” he lamented. “A hell of a lot of people haven’t grasped this.”
Australia’s first woman prime minister has launched a bitter campaign over issues like asylum seekers, the economy – and global warming.There was an expectation that Ms Gillard would have also announced new measures to address climate change before an election was called. A revamped climate change policy should be one of the next major policy announcements on her campaign trail with the possibility of an interim carbon tax and practical action measures to deal with carbon
pollution, expected to underpin the government’s approach on
climate change.Ms Gillard has ruled out bringing in an ETS before 2013.Climate change is truly back on the agenda – dumped former PM Kevin Rudd is touting a job as top-level US climate change adviser for the United Nations.Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has placed a $1 billion emissions reduction fund at the heart of the Coalition’s new $3.2 billion climate change policy. The fund would be used to invest in direct measures to
ELECTION 2010
Cont Page 15
The Frederick Richard O’Connell Charitable Trust congratulates the recipients of the
Frederick O’Connell Scholarship for 2010
The scholarships are awarded annually to students enrolled in a course conducted by a university in Victoria and, primarily to children of employees or proprietors of companies that
are members of the Timber Merchants’ Association Victoria (TMA).
Mr O’Connell was elected President of the TMA in 1940 and established the scholarship through his will to promote industrial harmony in Australia and improve relationships between
employers and employees within the timber industry.
For further details about the Frederick Richard O’Connell Trust, see www.eqt.com.au/not-for-profi t-organisations.aspx
Frederick Richard O’Connell (1894-1964)
Alex Holland Danielle Cuskelly Karen Hewitt Rebecca de Wys
Alicia Gugele Danielle Kaiser Kate Wright Robin Bull
Anne Tat Douglas Ward Kirsten Hawker Thomas Wright
Briana Gilbert Eleni Zafi ropoulos Lexie Griffi n Vicky Tat
Bryce Leen Elizabeth Paine Rachael Hickey
Carly Dixon Hayden Schreurs Rachel Cuskelly
Carbon tax still hot topic on the campaign trailClimate change? Let’s move on!
Human population, not so-called global warmth, is the real issue.
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help the public, industry and farmers cut emissions.Those measures would include planting 20 million trees, a $1000 solar panel rebate and soil carbon storage.Mr Abbott said the plan would be simpler, cheaper and more effective than the government’s emissions trading scheme and would deliver the same 5% cut in emissions by 2020.Above all this comes some sobering revelations from Professor Robert Laughlin, the respected physicist at Stanford University, California, and co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize for physics.“Governments – and people generally – should proceed with more humility in dealing with climate change,” he saysThe Earth, he says, is very old and has suffered grievously: volcanic explosions, floods, meteor impacts, mountain formation “and all manner of other abuses greater than anything people could inflict.” Yet, the Earth is still here. “It’s a survivor.”Writing in the American Scholar magazine, Prof. Laughlin offers a profoundly different perspective on climate change. “Common sense tells us that damaging a thing as old as [Earth] is somewhat easier to imagine than it is to accomplish – like invading Russia.” For planet Earth, he says, the crisis of climate change, if crisis it be, will be a walk in the park.Relax, Prof. Laughlin advises. Let it be. “The geologic record suggests that climate ought not to concern us too much when we gaze into the future,” he says, “not because it’s unimportant but because it’s beyond our power to control.” Whatever humans throw at it, in other words, Earth will fix things in its own time and its
own way.You can’t discuss climate change, Prof. Laughlin says, without looking backward across geologic time. He puts ordinary rainfall into perspective to illustrate the point. The rain that now falls on the world in a normal year measures a metre – “about the height of a golden retriever”. The rain that has fallen since the beginning of the Industrial Age measures 200 metres. The rain that has fallen since the age of dinosaurs would fill Earth’s oceans 20,000 times. The rain that has fallen since oxygen formed would fill the entire world 100 times.Yet, the amount of water in Earth’s oceans hasn’t changed significantly in all of this time.
In Earth’s most recent glacial melting, 15,000 years ago, the sea level rose by one centimetre a year for 10,000 years – and then abruptly stopped. The heat required to produce this melting was 10 times the total energy consumption of all human civilisation.Excess carbon in the atmosphere? It happens all the time. And Earth deals with it. Anything that humans do to mitigate it will be a waste of time. Governments and citizens delude themselves when they think they can make a difference.“The Earth doesn’t care about any of these governments or their legislation,” Prof. Laughlin writes. “It doesn’t care whether you turn off your air conditioner, refrigerator and television set. It doesn’t notice when you turn down your thermostat and drive a hybrid car.“These actions simply spread the pain over a few centuries, the bat of an eyelash as far as the Earth is concerned, and leave the end result exactly the same: All the fossil fuel that used to be in the ground is now in the air and none is left to burn.”The Earth will dissolve the bulk of this atmospheric carbon dioxide in its oceans, a process that will take roughly 1000 years.
(The oceans now hold 30 trillion tonnes of carbon – 30 times the world’s coal reserves).) Over tens of thousands of years, the Earth will transfer excess carbon dioxide into rocks, a process that will ultimately restore carbon dioxide concentrations to the same level that prevailed before humans existed.How do we know the Earth will turn excess carbon dioxide into limestone? We know because the world’s carbon dioxide levels are determined “by a geologic regulatory process.” The proof is in Earth’s rocks.Prof. Laughlin concedes that excess carbon dioxide could – “in a handful of examples” – contribute to the extinction of species. He cites corals as an example. But he insists that keeping carbon in the ground for a little while longer won’t make much difference to animal or to organism.
The real extinction problem, he says, is human population pressure: habitat destruction, pesticide abuse, over harvesting, species invasion. This is a distinction of great importance because it might help direct environmental concern to goals that people can actually achieve.The Earth regulates climate change in geologic time, Prof. Laughlin says, “without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself.” If the Earth determines that Canada should freeze again, the best response would simply be to sell your Canadian real estate. The Earth moves on, Prof. Laughlin says. So should we.
ELECTION 2010
From Page 14
Let’s move on from climate change .. Professor Robert Laughlin.
‘Excess carbon in the atmosphere? It happens all the time. And Earth deals
with it. Anything that humans do to mitigate it will be a
waste of time’ – Prof. Robert Laughlin
Trees . the true carbon capturers.
The Earth doesn’t care about any of these governments or their legislation
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Classifieds
An assessment of the standing timber, product range and approximate value was undertaken on the western portion 107 LX 2421 in March last year.
In preparation for the assessment, aerial photos were procured, the regional ecosystems overlayed, proposed strip lines considered and their GPS points down loaded to gain a representative sample of various forest types.
Data collected includes species, diameter at breast height (cm), potential product and its length, and whether the tree would be harvested, retained or chemically treated.
Management units were identified and mapped by assessing the consistency of the forest in relation to species mix and productivity. The strip data was then extrapolated to give a per hectare figure of available volume and extrapolated over the unit area.
Professional report indicates value of timber at $307,000 as at February 09, rising to $788,000 in 8-9 years.
All inquiries and requests for detailed assessment data and aerial photographs should be directed to:
Located Jimna area – Queensland
Area: 243.5 hectares. Elevation 600 metres Normal rainfall 45 in.
Top pole production country with high quality iron bark, grey gum and hoop pine.
Sunday Creek Rd to Kenilworth on southern boundary.
Eastern and western boundaries are Conondale National Park.
Bitumen road frontage. Permanent flow in Six Mile Creek. Great views. Power on property.
FOR SALEMagnificent timber block
$880,000
Richard Long – Rent-A-Stand Pty Ltd, PO Box 37 Greenslopes 4120 Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Tel: +617 33241288 Fax: +617 33970914. Mob: 0408 884 979Email: [email protected]
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