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.