The impact of the previous Labor-Green government’s disastrous Tasmanian Forest Agreement has been laid bare in Forestry Tasmania’s annual report.
Forestry Tasmania has recorded an after tax loss of $43.1 million for the 2013-14 financial year, with the single largest factor being a cut of $18.9 million in the valuation of its forest asset.
This was a direct result of the 400,000 hectares of land locked-up under the job-destroying Labor-Green forest deal.
In fact, the significant loss comes in spite of a six per cent increase in high quality sawlog sales, a 43 per cent increase in pulp wood sales and a big jump in revenue from $56.3 million in 2012-13 to $95.8 million in 2013-14.
These figures make a lie of Labor claims that their slash and burn mentality with regard to forestry was somehow necessary.
The Government is working with Forestry Tasmania to put the company on a sustainable footing so it can play a key role in the rebuilding of this industry.
We have repealed the job-destroying forest deal and unlocked the 400,000 hectares Labor and the Greens locked-up.
We have established a review overseen by myself and the Treasurer with a steering committee including representatives from Treasury and the Departments of State Growth and Premier and Cabinet.
Importantly, Forestry Tasmania also has a seat at the table, rather than being locked out of the room as it was under the previous government.
The review will provide a clear path to a long-term financially sustainable model for the management and commercial operation of the State’s public production forests.
Paul Harriss, Minister for Resources
