Western Australia’s Forestry Minister Terry Redman insists the Government has handled the forestry industry well, despite a range of problems coming to light in recent weeks. Source: ABC News
A highly critical auditor-general report on the Government’s management of the state’s forests came just days after 44 staff was made redundant at a south-west mill.
Whittakers Timber Products laid off much of its workforce at the Greenbushes facility, largely due to an uncertain supply of logs.
Redman said it is a tough time for the industry but that is due to global conditions, not Government mismanagement.
“When you can’t sell your product because people are tightening up their products, that means it’s going to affect your business and that’s what’s happening in the timber sector,” he said.
“The other problem that’s there is as we move forward in forest harvesting, we’re moving more into regrowth forest and getting less of that more mature forest, which means it’s more challenging to turn a profit.”
Redman concedes the industry is in a difficult place but has defended the Government’s role in that.
“Well we need to remember that the backdrop of the economy right now is pretty tough times,” he said. “If you take out the resources sector, just about all industries will tell you that things are difficult and challenging.
“There’s no exception to the timber industry, that’s exactly the same.”
