SANDALWOOD HARVEST
383. Hon COLIN HOLT to the minister representing the
Minister for Forestry:
I refer to my question without
notice 265 asked on 2 April 2019.
(1) As stated,
contracts were awarded to Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils Pty Ltd for 100 tonnes of
sandalwood per annum and Mount Romance Australia Pty Ltd for 400 tonnes of
sandalwood per annum. How much did these contractors agree to pay for the
sandalwood at the time of the contract?
(2) As stated,
the contract with Mount Romance Australia Pty Ltd was terminated by mutual
agreement in May 2018.
(a) Was the 400
tonnes of wood re-tendered?
(b) If no to (1),
why not?
(c) Was a new
contractor appointed for the 400 tonnes of wood?
(d) If yes to
(3), who is the contractor?
(e) What is the
price paid by the contractor?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the
question. The Minister for Forestry has provided the following information.
(1) I am seeking
further advice on this matter and it is not possible to provide an answer in
the time available. I therefore ask the honourable member to place this
question on notice.
(2) (a) Yes. The Forest Products Commission established a panel
of sandalwood buyers through a public tender process. The wood available
to the panel includes the resources previously allocated to Mount Romance. The FPC releases parcels of
sandalwood periodically to panel members to bid on.
(b) Not
applicable.
(c) Currently,
there are nine panel members and all have equal opportunity to make offers for
sandalwood.
(d) The current
panel members are Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils Pty Ltd, Mount Romance Australia Pty Ltd,
Wescorp Sandalwood Pty Ltd, Raintree Pearls & Perfumes Pty Ltd, K Farmer
Dutjahn Foundation Ltd, Paperbark Essential Oils or Paperbark Co Pty Ltd, WA Sandalwood
Plantations Pty Ltd, Alpha Santanol Pty Ltd, and Sandalwood Growers Co-op Ltd.
(e) I am seeking
further advice on this matter and it is not possible to provide an answer in
the time available. I therefore ask the honourable member to place this part of
the question on notice.