Felix Ellis, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources
The Tasmanian Government will require timber supplied from our State to be processed in Tasmania under new long-term wood supply contracts currently being negotiated.
The Government requested Sustainable Timber Tasmania undergo an investigation into the sale of Tasmanian native forest sawlogs to Victorian sawmills, following concerns of on-selling of a small volume of logs interstate.
The Government notes the findings in the report which has been publicly released today.
Sustainable Timber Tasmania supplies native sawlogs to processors operating in Tasmania, with logs delivered directly to local mills to support on-island processing and value-adding.
Minister for Business, Industry and Resources Felix Ellis said it was disappointing to learn that a small quantity of logs sourced from Tasmania’s Permanent Timber Production Zone land, equivalent to around 2 per cent of annual sawlog supply, had been on-sold to Victoria for processing.
“Tasmanians rightly expect that timber harvested in our State supports Tasmanian jobs and Tasmanian communities,” Minister Ellis said.
“That’s why we’re taking action to ensure Tasmanian timber is processed on island.
“While existing contracts negotiated under the previous Labor Government do not explicitly require on-island processing, we are ensuring future contracts do.
“We will amend Labor’s previous decision and require timber supplied by Sustainable Timber Tasmania to be processed in Tasmania, guaranteeing more value from our timber resource here at home.
“Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future is backing the forestry industry and the 5,700 jobs it supports, with initiatives such as our On-Island Processing Grants program helping sawmillers invest, expand capability and create jobs in regional Tasmania.
“These new contracts will ensure our resources deliver the greatest possible benefit to Tasmanians.”
The public report into the Sale of Tasmanian Native Forest Sawlogs to Victorian Sawmills can be downloaded on the Sustainable Timber Tasmania website.
