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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 176 asked in the Legislative Council on 14 March 2019 by Hon Diane Evers

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

SANDALWOOD HARVEST

176. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:

I refer to the minister's response to my question without notice 115 asked on 21 February 2019 relating to sandalwood harvesting.

(1) What options is the government currently exploring to increase Aboriginal native title holders' participation in the sandalwood industry, including in the harvest of wild sandalwood?

(2) The sandalwood working group recommendations in 2015 noted that the 90 per cent quota allocation was a reflection of the percentage of wild sandalwood on approximately 131 million hectares of crown land. Did this include crown land reserve subject to native title, determined or claimed; and, if yes, how much of this area is subject to native title?

(3) If yes to (2), why are native title holders specifically included in the 10 per cent alienated land quota allocation rather than in the 90 per cent quota?

(4) The recommendations also stated that the quota for wild sandalwood should significantly reduce when the plantation resource becomes available for harvest. As plantation harvesting currently contributes around 500 tonnes per annum, has the quota changed; and, if yes, when; and, if no, why not?

(5) Will the minister commit to reviewing the wild sandalwood quota allocation, given that the Forest Products Commission is continually not reaching its annual crown land harvest targets, as per previous annual reports, and given that native title holders on crown land are severely disadvantaged by needing to compete for allocation within the 10 per cent alienated allocation?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. It is a very long question. I have a long answer. I think perhaps in the future, I will ask members with questions of this length to put them on notice.

(1) Increasing Aboriginal participation in a range of industries and activities is a key focus of the McGowan government. I am advised by the Minister for Forestry that the Forest Products Commission has a range of strategies aimed at increasing Aboriginal participation in key aspects of the wild sandalwood industry, including seed collection, harvest and regeneration activities.

(2) Yes. When the sandalwood working group made this recommendation in 2015, the quota allocation was considered on the basis of not only the occurrence of sandalwood across tenures regardless of native title status, but also the availability of inventory information and conservation objectives. A figure on the area that was subject to native title in 2015 could not be provided given the limited time available to respond to this question.

(3) Native title holders have not been specifically included in the 10 per cent allocation quota for sandalwood on alienated land. Native title holders can apply for a sandalwood harvesting licence. The total amount of wild sandalwood harvested under licence must not exceed the quota set in the Sandalwood (Limitation of Removal of Sandalwood) Order (No. 2) 2015.

(4) The annual harvest quota for sandalwood was set through the order in 2015. That order remains in force until 30 June 2026, when it was anticipated that significant quantities of plantation-grown sandalwood with high-quality oil content would start to become available for integration into the market.

(5) I am seeking advice on the management of sandalwood from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and will liaise with the Minister for Forestry to consider the government's approach.