FORESTRY — HARDWOOD — FURNITURE
MANUFACTURING
1093. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Forestry:
This question was lodged some time
ago. I refer to the Western Australian Furniture Manufacturers Association's
media release on 21 September about its access to the supply of local timber.
(1) Has the government conducted any modelling to see
how much local hardwood timber will be required to ensure the existence of the furniture
manufacturing industry and the construction industry in Western Australia?
(2) If yes to
(1), how much hardwood timber will be required?
(3) If no to (1),
why was this not taken into consideration prior to the announcement of the end
of hardwood harvesting?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
I wish him to note that this answer was valid as at 26 October. The following
information has been provided by the Minister for Forestry.
(1)–(3) Given the ever-increasing impacts of climate
change, the importance of maintaining ecological biodiversity for forest
health and the need for carbon capture and storage, in addition to declining
timber yields, the government has taken the decision to end logging of south
west native forests from 2024. Declining yields of native timber—meaning less sawlog and other bole volume of
timber from a given area of forest—mean that larger areas of
forest must be cut down in order to fulfil contracts. Business as usual logging
is not sustainable under the forthcoming forest management plan.
Timber for furniture making and
artisanal products is sourced through a variety of means, including reclaimed wood and timber produced on private
properties, and these sources will continue to be available. Trees
cleared for approved mining activities or infrastructure developments will
produce sawlogs that could be used for furniture and artisanal products.
It should be noted that hardwood is
not widely used in construction. Softwood is predominantly used in construction
and the WA softwood processing industry currently supplies the majority of pine
products to the state's housing and construction market. This is the
reason that we are investing in a 10-year, $350 million expansion of the state's
softwood plantation estate.