MEDIA RELEASE
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes the joint Federal and Tasmanian Governments response to the independent review of the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) and their commitment for its renewal.
Both governments have agreed, in part or in full, to all recommendations presented in this independent review. They stated that the review found the Tasmanian RFA was working effectively and continues to provide a sound framework for managing Tasmania’s forest resources sustainably.
AFPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ross Hampton said, “AFPA welcomes the Federal and Tasmanian Governments’ agreement to the independent reviewer’s recommendations and their strong commitment to extend this RFA to a rolling 20-year agreement. RFAs provide a framework for the sustainable management of Australia’s forests that ensures best practice environmental standards flourish, while providing a level of certainty of supply to industry that underpins investment, supports innovation and creates jobs.”
“Every year our industries only access half of one percent of the naturally regrowing forests of Australia. Forest managers are determined that everything they do will be sustainably managed to the highest standards. RFAs provide a world-class, science-based framework to achieve that. It is good news that this third independent review has been completed in Tasmania and it is important that our political leaders implement a renewal process for all the RFAs without delay.”
“It must be noted that RFAs in Victorian, New South Wales and Western Australia are well behind the review schedule.”
“AFPA is seeking commitments from both major Federal Parties to continue their bipartisan support for RFA renewal in the run-up to the 2016 federal election,” said Mr Hampton.