SANDALWOOD HARVEST
176. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the minister's
response to my question without notice 115 asked on 21 February 2019 relating
to sandalwood harvesting.
(1) What options
is the government currently exploring to increase Aboriginal native title
holders' participation in the sandalwood industry, including in the
harvest of wild sandalwood?
(2) The
sandalwood working group recommendations in 2015 noted that the 90 per cent
quota allocation was a reflection of the percentage of wild sandalwood on
approximately 131 million hectares of crown land. Did this include crown land
reserve subject to native title, determined or claimed; and, if yes, how much
of this area is subject to native title?
(3) If yes to
(2), why are native title holders specifically included in the 10 per cent
alienated land quota allocation rather than in the 90 per cent quota?
(4) The
recommendations also stated that the quota for wild sandalwood should
significantly reduce when the plantation resource becomes available for
harvest. As plantation harvesting currently contributes around 500 tonnes per
annum, has the quota changed; and, if yes, when; and, if no, why not?
(5) Will the
minister commit to reviewing the wild sandalwood quota allocation, given that
the Forest Products Commission is continually not reaching its annual crown
land harvest targets, as per previous annual reports, and given that native
title holders on crown land are severely disadvantaged by needing to compete
for allocation within the 10 per cent alienated allocation?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. It is a very long question. I have a long answer.
I think perhaps in the future, I will ask members with questions of this length
to put them on notice.
(1) Increasing
Aboriginal participation in a range of industries and activities is a key focus
of the McGowan government. I am advised by the Minister for Forestry that the
Forest Products Commission has a range of strategies aimed at increasing Aboriginal
participation in key aspects of the wild sandalwood industry, including seed
collection, harvest and regeneration activities.
(2) Yes. When the
sandalwood working group made this recommendation in 2015, the quota allocation
was considered on the basis of not only the occurrence of sandalwood across
tenures regardless of native title status, but also the availability of
inventory information and conservation objectives. A figure on the area that
was subject to native title in 2015 could not be provided given the limited
time available to respond to this question.
(3) Native
title holders have not been specifically included in the 10 per cent allocation
quota for sandalwood on alienated land. Native title holders can apply for a sandalwood
harvesting licence. The total amount of wild sandalwood harvested under licence
must not exceed the quota set in the Sandalwood (Limitation of Removal of
Sandalwood) Order (No. 2) 2015.
(4) The annual
harvest quota for sandalwood was set through the order in 2015. That order
remains in force until 30 June 2026, when it was anticipated that significant
quantities of plantation-grown sandalwood with high-quality oil content would
start to become available for integration into the market.
(5) I am seeking advice on the management of
sandalwood from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions and will liaise with the Minister for Forestry to consider the
government's approach.