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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 824 asked in the Legislative Council on 14 August 2019 by Hon Colin Holt

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

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.