THE Liberal Party has hit back at Labor’s forestry policy by highlighting what it had done in the past four years while in government.
Forestry Minister David Basham said the Liberal Government had always recognised the importance of the forest and wood products sector, “Which is why we have invested more than $50 million towards the industry since coming to government and delivered on our election commitment to establish the Forest Industry Advisory Council of South Australia (FIACSA).
“This is in stark contrast to SA Labor who sold off and sold out the forestry industry in the South East,” Mr Basham said.
“They’ve also wasted the industry’s time by conducting a parliamentary inquiry which received 33 submissions and interviewed more than 40 people to return a report with just one recommendation – to re-establish the committee under the new parliament.
“I welcome Labor’s new found interest in South Australia’s forestry sector but their election commitments pale in comparison to what the Marshall Liberal Government has delivered and in fact replicates much of what we’ve already done.”
He said South Australia’s $2.3b forest and wood products sector is an important economic driver for the state, particularly in the Green Triangle region which is one of Australia’s premier softwood timber producing regions.
“As South Australia continues its strong economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic the forestry and wood product industries will play a key role in driving growth and creating jobs,” Mr Basham said.
“We will continue to work with the industry to achieve this, our Wood Encouragement Policy is currently out for targeted consultation, we are investing to expand farm forestry across the State and look forward to working with landholders in the South East to take part in our inaugural $1 million Carbon Farming pilot program.”
