Diversity in Resources Sector

Media release – Guy Barnett, Minister for Resources, 27 July 2021

Delivering on a more diverse resources sector

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is delivering on two key commitments in our first 100-day Plan to increase gender and cultural diversity in the State’s resources sector.

Tasmania’s resources industry is already taking positive steps to create supportive and inclusive workplaces for people from diverse backgrounds.

To further strengthen this, the Government is providing $300,000 to the Tasmanian Forest and Forest Products Network (TFFPN) and $150,000 to the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council (TMEC) respectively for the development of industry‑specific Diversity Action Plans.

The sector currently employs thousands of Tasmanians right across the state and injects billions into the economy so this is an investment in both people and productivity.

For Tasmania’s resources sector to be globally competitive, it is essential that it can attract and retain talented individuals from all walks of life and that is what we hope these workforce diversity plans will achieve.

These action plans will help to attract more women and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to the forestry, mining, minerals processing, manufacturing and energy sectors.

With these industries thriving, the Government encourages all Tasmanians, no matter where they live and no matter what their background, to consider a career in our essential resources sector.

We look forward to seeing both of these industry workforce diversity plans developed and completed this year and being put into action from next year.

Media release – Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network, Tuesday 27 July 2021

New Plan to increase diversity of forest sector

The Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network will deliver a Diversity Action Plan for the forest industry which aims to increase the gender and cultural diversity of the workforce, it was announced by Minister Guy Barnett today.

The project was a key commitment in the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s First 100-day Plan and will provide $300,000 to the Network to develop and deliver an industry-driven Diversity Action Plan over the next two years that will attract more women and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to the forest sector.

Network Convenor, Therese Taylor said industry is committed to broadening and bolstering its workforce with a range of skilled workers and that now is the right time to develop a whole-of-industry approach to improving diversity outcomes.

“It’s no secret the forest industry in Tasmania has historically been overwhelmingly male-dominated and not particularly culturally diverse—in fact, women currently comprise only 16% of the sector,” Ms Taylor said.

“But we also know that improved diversity outcomes are shown to increase productivity and improve culture in the workplace.

“We are thrilled that the Tasmanian Government is supporting the Network to develop and deliver this important piece of work, which will not only benefit those in the industry, but Tasmania more broadly through improved economic and social outcomes.”

Recent industry reports, including, ‘A Strategic Growth Plan for the Tasmanian forests, fine timber and wood fibre industry’ (2017), ‘Northern Tasmania Regional Forestry Hub: Culture, Training and Skills Assessment’ Report (2020), and the ‘Tasmanian Forest Industry Workforce Development Plan’ discussion paper (2021), have all highlighted the lack of workforce diversity as a significant issue affecting the future of forestry in the state—particularly in regional and remote areas.

“The evidence from these reports suggests that the industry across the different sectors is experiencing significant issues attracting a diversity of cohorts from the community—specifically women, young people, and recent migrants—to its workforce,” Ms Taylor said.

“The Diversity Action Plan project presents a considerable opportunity to develop a new, robust, skills-based forestry workforce that is more reflective of the broader community in which it is based.”