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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 494 asked in the Legislative Council on 19 May 2022 by Hon Steve Martin

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

SIMCOA — FEEDSTOCK

494. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the Minister for Forestry:

I refer to the Minister for Climate Action's comments on 17 May that the climate and environmental impacts of the government's decision to end native hardwood forestry in Western Australia were a matter for the Minister for Forestry.

(1) Was any scientific modelling or research specific to Western Australia undertaken when making the decision to end native hardwood forestry, and —

(a) if yes, will the minister please table the modelling and research used; and

(b) if no, why not?

(2) Was the environmental impact of importing timber in order to meet local demand considered in the modelling?

(3) Was the environmental impact of forcing Simcoa to import and utilise Colombian coal considered in the modelling?

Hon DARREN WEST replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the minister, I provide the following answer from the hardworking Minister for Forestry.

(1)–(2) The preamble to the question is incorrect. The Minister for Climate Action made no such comment. On 17 May, the Minister for Climate Action advised the opposition that specific questions regarding the supply of timber to Simcoa under a Forest Products Commission contract should be directed to the Minister for Forestry. Questions concerning the environmental benefits relating to the decision to end native logging should be directed to the Minister for Environment.

(3) The government envisages that the by-product of ecological thinning in the jarrah forest will be available to supply Simcoa under similar arrangements that exist in the current forest management plan.