FORESTRY — HARDWOOD — IMPORTATION
726. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Forestry:
(1) Has the
state government modelled how much hardwood timber will have to be imported
because of fundamental structural changes to the timber industry; and, if not,
why not?
(2) If yes to (1), how much hardwood is expected to be
imported per annum?
(3) What countries are timber imports originating from?
(4) What
safeguards has the state government established to ensure that hardwood timber
imports are not originating from countries that engage in unsustainable
forestry practices, including the destruction of pristine natural habitats for
critically endangered species?
Hon DARREN
WEST replied:
On
behalf of the Minister for Regional Development, I thank the honourable member
for some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Forestry,
I provide the following answer.
(1)–(3) Records
around importation are held by the federal government. There has been a steady
reduction over the past 20 years of jarrah timber in not only the use of native
forest timber, but also the availability. It is not used as a construction
timber in any great way anymore in Western Australia and it has been facing competition in its traditional markets of flooring
and decking by imports and substitute engineered products. The introduction of the bushfire attack level
rating for construction in bushfire-prone areas has also limited its use
in recent years in WA.
(4) There are
Australian-grown alternatives already available in WA. Rules around the
importation of timber products are within the jurisdiction of the federal
government and questions on these matters should be directed accordingly.