- Timber NSW disputes claims by ex-treasury head Ken Henry that 90% of NSW native timber goes to chip and firewood, stating that sawlog accounts for 84% of sales by volume on the NSW North Coast, with no woodchip facility in the region.
- The industry is described as innovative, developing structural laminates and combining timber with materials such as hemp, though many companies have been negatively impacted by what are described as ill-informed political decisions restricting timber supply.
- 90% of publicly owned forests in NSW are already in national parks and conservation reserves, whilst State forests cost less than a tenth of the price to manage compared to National Parks, contribute £1.1 billion annually to the NSW economy, and over half are managed exclusively for environmental conservation.
The claim made by ex-treasury head Ken Henry that 90% of NSW native timber goes into chip and firewood is so demonstrably wrong it’s outrageous for journalists to report the claim without a laughing emoji.
According to Timber NSW Chief Executive Maree McCaskill, ‘On the NSW North Coast, sawlog accounts for 84% of sales by volume.’
‘There is no woodchip facility in northern NSW and firewood is the lowest value use of timber with the exception of garden mulch. No business will turn quality sawlogs into firewood.’
‘The industry is full of innovative leaders developing structural laminates, or combining timber with materials like hemp to maximise the economic return from every tree harvested.
‘Unfortunately the rug has been pulled out from many of these companies because of ill-informed political decisions to further constrain timber supply while consumer demand is increasing.
‘An enormous amount of what we do is trying to educate people about forestry. Our job is made much harder when we have to counter the false information and ignorance made by commentators like Ken Henry who is a leading voice in the destruction of manufacturing in Australia.
‘The obsession with destroying the timber industry in Australia has already led to bizarre outcomes - Australia now relies on imported hardwood from questionable sources. This includes Merbau, a listed threatened species and the economy is so distorted that Australian paper making businesses have been driven out of business so now, even the eco-friendly paper bags at Woolworths supermarkets have to be imported.
Some other information the commentators like Ken Henry and numerous politicians ignore is:
- 90% of publicly owned forests are already in national parks and conservation reserves in NSW (nearly 8M ha)
- State forests cost less than a tenth of the cost of managing National Parks
- State forests contribute to an industry that generates $1.1b annually in value added to the NSW economy.
- Over half of all State forests (1M ha) are managed exclusively for environmental conservation so they have enormous conservation value …while also producing timber
- State forests that have been well managed for timber over 100 years remain full of native species.
- Unlike most National Parks, State forests are not gated. State forests are highly accessible to the public. There are hundreds of beautiful camping and swimming sites that you can drive to and take your family dog and, unlike National Parks, they are free!
Contact details:
Maree McCaskill, CEO 0418 657 453
