According to Rod McInnes of Timber Queensland too many areas were closed by the previous Labor government for political reasons and he says that native timber must form part of a plan for the long term future of the $2.4 billion industry.
His plan is not to revert to whole scale native forest harvesting but to encourage a debate about where harvesting can be done based on a scientific approach as he believes that the state’s timber needs can be met by a combination of plantation and native forest timbers.
Mr McInness has flagged his opinions to the new Queensland forestry minister, John McVeigh telling him that a new timber industry plan is needed to combat cheap imports.
