Resources Minister Guy Barnett's plans to open up forests to logging faces opposition

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propertyHome/Council and PoliticsResources Minister Guy Barnett's plans to open up forests to logging faces oppositionBy Rob InglisUpdated February 27 2017 - 5:52pm, first published 3:49pmBy

Rob InglisUpdated February 27 2017 - 5:52pm, first published 3:49pmFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyForestry support doubted The state government’s plans to “rebuild” Tasmania’s forest 

industry have been met with uncertainty on a number of fronts.

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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue Resources Minister Guy

Barnett announced on Thursday that he would be tabling the Forestry (Unlocking Production Forests) Bill when parliament resumes.

Mr Barnett said that if the bill was approved, it would convert 356,000 hectares of so-called Future Potential Production Forest Land into Production Forest Land come July 1 2018.

But Opposition Leader Bryan Green claimed there was not industry support for the proposal.

“Guy Barnett can’t name one key player who supports the government’s policy,” Mr Green said.

Mr Barnett said Forestry Tasmania had “clearly advised” that it could not effectively supply the “legislated requirement” of sawlogs to the industry.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor agreed with Mr Green, suggesting there was not industry support for the proposal.

Mr Barnett’s announcement raised questions regarding Forestry Tasmania’s bid to be recognised by the Forest Stewardship Council, which hinged on Tasmania’s 356,000 hectares of unlogged

forest remaining unlogged.

As a result, some in the forest industry are hesitant about accepting sawlogs from forests that are not FSC-certified.

Premier Will Hodgman, however, said no-one would be “forc[ed] ... to take the wood”.

“We're making it available to industry,” he said.

Britton Timber director Shawn Britton said the forest industry “need[ed] some more information” on the bill before it could come out in support of it.

The Wilderness Society campaign director Vica Bayley, meanwhile, speculated that the government’s policy did not only lack industry support, but support from the Ministerial Advisory Council

on Forestry, as well.

On Monday morning, Neville Smith Forest Products director James Neville-Smith said on ABC Radio that he did not want another “forest war” to flare up.

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