Question Without Notice No. 560 asked in the Legislative Council on 7 September 2017 by Hon Diane Evers
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
FOREST PRODUCTS COMMISSION — JARRAH SAWLOGS
560. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the Minister for Forestry:
(1) For the last five financial years, if figures are available, how many jarrah sawlogs, by year, were adjudicated as rejects because of the logs being poor quality?
(2) Has the average diameter of jarrah sawlogs sold by the Forest Products Commission diminished over time due to younger trees being logged?
(3) What is the usual recovery rate for sawn timber for structural, furniture or decorative purposes from jarrah sawlogs?
(4) With reference to question without notice 417 asked on 17 August, when does the minister expect the independent assessment of employment in the forestry industry commissioned by the Forest Products Commission on 20 February 2016 to be completed, and will he make it publicly available on its completion?
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Forestry has provided the following response.
(1) Due to the level of information required, it is not possible to provide an answer in the time available and the member is requested to place this part of the question on notice.
(2) The dimensions of logs sold are not recorded. However, I am aware that industry has observed a reduction in the size of jarrah sawlogs since the old‑growth policy was introduced by the previous Labor government in 2001. Through protecting old‑growth forest, there has been a reduction in the size of logs delivered for milling.
(3) The Forest Products Commission does not retain detailed statistics on rates of recoveries achieved in customers' mills by timber products or classes. As noted in information provided to the member on Friday, 1 September 2017, these rates will vary widely depending on a number of factors.
(4) It is expected that the report will be completed within the next two months and will be published.