Media release
11 December 2012
The Federal and Tasmanian Governments today
announced $102 million to support the Tasmanian
Forests Agreement that will provide certainty
for Tasmania’s forestry industry, support
local jobs and communities and protect the
state’s iconic forests.
Federal Environment
Minister Tony Burke who was joined by Deputy
Premier Bryan Green, said the additional
funding will help Tasmanians implement the
deal brokered last month by the forestry
industry, conservation movement and unions.
Further Federal support
for the agreement will consist of:
$28 million to support industry restructuring
including support for workers and contractors
$25.0 million to support regional structural
adjustment, sustainable residue solutions
and encourage innovation in the use of plantation
timber.
A further $2.0 million additional per year
($6 million 2014-17) to support the ongoing
management of additional reserves, bringing
the total to $9 million per year in perpetuity.
$3.5 million to support implementation of
the Signatories Agreement including the
establishment of the Special Council; forestry
industry certification; and securing the
durability of the Agreement.
"When I
came to Tasmania last week successive elected
members of the Legislative Council asked
me to make sure that a Commonwealth position
has been determined prior to them commencing
debate. Today's announcement meets that
request of the legislative council,"
Mr Burke said.
"Today's
announcement comes at a critical time when
a number of industry players are making
significant commercial decisions which will
have lasting impacts on the Tasmanian economy.
"The Australian
Government stands for Tasmanian jobs and
a sustainable industry. We are pleased to
be able to provide the funds required to
manage this period of transition and also
deliver significant conservation outcomes.
"Times of
transition are never easy but Governments
either step up and help people or let markets
take care of themselves with the risk of
serious and permanent adverse consequences.
"If the transition
is handled properly then the strong future
of Tasmania is assured and we want to help
make that happen."
Deputy Premier Bryan
Green said the Tasmanian Government would
provide an additional $39.5 million to assist
industry to transition to the new operating
environment and support for the Special
Council and securing durability of the agreement.
"This agreement
is critical to securing the long term future
of our forest industry and future jobs and
opportunities for Tasmanians.
"We have
worked closely with the Commonwealth and
the signatories on the funding package to
achieve all of the objectives of the agreement.
"These include
providing certainty to the industry and
protection of native forest with important
conservation values.
The funding brings the
State and Federal Governments total contribution
to the Tasmanian Forest Agreement to $379
million.
"The agreement
has already delivered over $140 million
to assist workers, forest contracts and
regional communities.
"This further
funding is contingent on the Legislative
Council passing of the Tasmanian Forests
Agreement Bill 2012.
"Most Tasmania
simply want the forest issue fixed.
"The agreement
remains the only way of not only ending
the conflict but providing certainty to
the industry while investing tens of millions
of dollars into the Tasmanian economy,”
Mr Green said.
