Andrew Wilkie: A statement on forestry research funding

Forestry research in Tasmania is poised to shed up to 20 positions at the National Centre for Future Forest Industries at the University of Tasmania. This is in addition to the loss of some 40 jobs at its predecessor, the Forestry Cooperative Research Centre two years ago.

In response I asked the following question of the Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, in Parliamentary Question Time today.

“Australia has been an international exporter of forestry knowledge and innovation for decades. But, with the finalisation of forestry CRCs and the imminent end to the National Centre for Future Forest Industries at the University of Tasmania, Australia’s research and development capacity is fast disappearing. What’s the government doing to arrest this decline and to retain forestry expertise in Australia?”

The Minister’s response was disappointing because he failed to give any reassurance that the National Centre for Future Forest Industries at UTAS would have its funding extended. This comes on top of recent cuts to CSIRO in Tasmania which is in the process of shedding close to 200 jobs in Hobart.

Anyone losing their job is always of great concern, as is putting at risk Australia’s knowledge base and capacity to work our forests in the most ecologically sustainable and financially efficient way possible.

Frankly this and the previous federal government have done enormous damage to Tasmania as a global centre of excellence in science and research. Winding up the forestry centre at UTAS will be another big blow at a time when the science and research community, and in fact the broader Tasmanian economy, can afford it least.

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Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Member for Denison