SANDALWOOD HARVEST —
LICENSING
824. Hon COLIN HOLT to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to my question without
notice 801 asked yesterday.
(1) Is the
minister saying that there are processors and dealers of sandalwood operating
outside of the licensing system?
(2) Does this
concern the minister, given the importance of the sandalwood resource and the
potential for illegal activity?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) A licence is
required for only the processing or dealing of specifically controlled
sandalwood, so not all businesses or individuals undertaking sandalwood
processing or dealing activities will require a licence. Licence applications
received from sandalwood processors are currently being processed. The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is continuing to raise
awareness of the need for sandalwood licences for taking, supplying, storing,
processing, dealing and exporting. There remains a small number—estimated
to be fewer than 10—of sandalwood processors and dealers who are not
yet licensed for these activities under the Biodiversity Conservation
Regulations 2018. I have instructed DBCA to deal with this issue as a priority.
(2) I am advised
that the implementation of the new licensing regime for sandalwood is improving
the management of this industry and reducing the opportunity for illegally
harvested sandalwood to be processed or sold.