A flawed ABC Four Corners investigation tonight into Australia’s sustainable native forestry sector was one-sided, unbalanced and lacked important scientific evidence and industry context.
AFPA Acting CEO Richard Hyett said the misleading program was not interested in accurately reflecting the latest science, environmental credentials and economic importance of Australia’s innovative forestry industry.
“Tonight’s story was not balanced, accurate or fair, and blatantly prioritised activism over credible journalism,” Mr Hyett said.
“The program ignored the evidence supporting Australia’s world-leading forest management systems and failed to present a balanced assessment of a sustainable industry that provides renewable products, regional jobs and significant environmental benefits.
“Disappointingly, Four Corners revoked an opportunity for AFPA – the peak national body for forestry – to provide an industry response, despite inviting our spokesperson to speak in April.
“We were one of many industry representatives who were ignored or misrepresented by Four Corners.”
Mr Hyett said the program also failed to acknowledge the real-world consequences of the short-sighted decisions to end native forestry in Victoria and Western Australia.
“Evidence-based research shows domestic demand for timber and wood products does not stop – and these shutdowns only increase our reliance on imported hardwood products, sourced from Indonesia and Brazil that don’t operate under Australia’s world-class forest management systems,” Mr Hyett said.
“Native bans in Victoria and WA have also had devastating impacts on regional jobs and communities, local economies and long-term investment in Australia’s sixth-largest manufacturing sector.
“Rather than slamming an industry contributing more than $24 billion a year to the economy, Four Corners should have focused on the need to invest in sustainable forestry and support essential Australian-made products used every day, including flooring, decking, furniture, pallets, packaging, paper and power poles.
“The 80,000 Australians employed in forestry in many regional communities would also take offence to working for a ‘zombie industry’, as one academic incorrectly claimed in the story.
“No wonder the One Nation vote is soaring in Australia, given this type of baseless rhetoric from our national broadcaster.
“We can’t afford to weaken our sovereign manufacturing capability or continue outsourcing timber production overseas. Sustainable native forestry has an important role to play in Australia’s economic and environmental future.”
Get more facts on forestry – https://forestfacts.com.au/
