PRIME MINYISTER 27/
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING, MP
FORESTS POLICY
Cabinet met today to discuss the Government's strategy for the protection of
Australia's native forests and the long term future of our forest industries.
The management of Australia's forests is primarily a State responsibility.
However the community looks to the Commonwealth for leadership in the
protection of what are national assets treasured by all Australians.
Cabinet agreed to implement a number of important measures which will
ensure Australia has a system of reserves comprehensively representing all
forest types, and at the same time a diverse, internationally competitive wood
products industry.
As a first step, I am releasing today a discussion paper detailing the
Commonwealth's position for a future forest reserve system. The aim of the
paper is to stimulate public comment on appropriate criteria for establishing
the reserves. During the six week consultation phase, the Commonwealth
will also be working with State and Territory governments to develop
nationally agreed criteria for application in the development of forest
agreements for all regions.
With the cooperation of the States, the Commonwealth will use these criteria
to undertake a preliminary reserve analysis to set aside areas pending
completion of regional forest agreements. This will enable applications for
1996 woodchip export licenses to be assessed on a regional, rather than
coupe-by-coupe basis. Our strategy will also make sure that the
Government's policy of protecting high conservation value forests in
perpetuity will not be compromised while regional forest agreements are
being developed, and industry will enjoy more certainty about the availability
of resources.
These regional forest agreements will identify areas for incorporation in a
national reserve system that adequately and comprehensively represents all
forest types, and areas which may be harvested on a strict basis of ecological
sustainability.
The Government takes the view that the best policy for Australia is one which
at once protects forever our unique and irreplaceable native forests, and
develops and maintains a profitable and ecologically sustainable forest
products industry based on re-growth forests, plantations and other fibre
sources. The two ambitions are compatible and mutually re-inforcing. An
ecologically sustainable forest products industry is consistent with our
environmental ambitions, including that of reducing the degree to which
ecologically unsustainable industries develop in other countries. The
development of a model industry in Australia can be a tangible expression of
thinking globally and acting locally.
As an integral part of the overall strategy I am releasing an industry
discussion paper and consultations will be undertaken over the next
weeks, prior to its finalisation in the middle of the year.
Central to the Government's position for the future of the industry is the need
to turn around Australia's $ 1.8 billion trade deficit in forest products by
encouraging greater downstream processing, more intensive plantation
production, and international best-practice forest management.
Relevant Commonwealth departments will be taking this opportunity to bring
together labour market programs and industry programs aimed at improving
the competitiveness of the wood products industry.
We have also agreed to recommend to the Minister for Resources that he ask
export woodchip companies to refrain from sourcing woodchips from 264
coupes that Cabinet believes might be required for a future reserve system,
and that were originally proposed by States for logging in 1995.
1 will be asking the States to fully protect all these coupes, including the nonnational
estate coupes we have set aside, pending finalisation of the regional
forest agreements.
The Government recognises that requesting companies to stay out of areas
proposed by States for logging in 1995 will have consequences for the
livelihoods of some forest workers. The Government will provide income
support under existing programs for those workers. For any self-employed
workers the Government will consider the payment of transitional assistance.
Local CES offices will be active in ensuring that workers are aware of
programs they are eligible to join, and other forms of assistance that are
immediately available to them.
The Government has developed a tailored package of assistance available
immediately for self-employed workers, employees and their families affected
by structural adjustment to the industry. The Forest Industries Special
Assistance Package will provide individuals with access to training and
employment programs under Working Nation. including the National Training
Wage, JobStart and JobSkills and assist with relocation and travel costs.
These programs will be individually designed to address the training and
employment needs of people affected by the decision and will assist them to
find alternative employment opportunities as quickly as possible.
In partnership with State and local government, industry, unions and
communities, a range of projects will be identified in regions to provide
employment opportunities in areas such as plantation and farm forestry and
value-added forestry related industries. These projects will be initially
facilitated through the Working Nation initiatives.
CANBERRA MARCH 1995