Liberals bungle forestry EOI process

The State Government has completely botched the Expressions of Interest process for forest residues.

Both the Minister for Resources and the Minister for Infrastructure were exposed as incompetent this morning in Parliament.

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding today denigrated a business that was looking to invest in excess of $30 million in Tasmania to export woodchips from the Triabunna wharf.

“Rene Hidding denied knowing anything about rival bids for the wharf but was caught out when it was revealed he was sent a lengthy email from a proponent,” Labor Leader Bryan Green said.

“Instead of assisting the proponent to navigate the convoluted process, the Minister just fobbed him off.

“The Government needs to explain why the wharf was sold before the residues EOI process had concluded. How was the industry supposed to compete without a guaranteed resource?

“Now the timber industry has both hands tied behind its back as it tries to come up with a solution for residues in the south of the state.

To make matters worse, the Minister for Resources has also failed to clarify whether Macquarie Wharf is on or off the table as an export option.

“Whether by design, or sheer incompetence, the Government has set the industry up to fail.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader