Membership of Plantation Industry Ministerial Advisory Committee announced

30/8/02
Development of the State's rapidly expanding plantation industry will be further enhanced by a new State Government initiative.
Forestry Minister Kim Chance today visited Bunbury to announce the establishment of a Plantation Industry Ministerial Advisory Committee.
Mr Chance said the broad-based committee would harness the huge enthusiasm within the industry into a cohesive unit with a direct line of advice to his Ministerial Office.
"There are exciting developments occurring throughout the State in this multi-million dollar industry that continues to demonstrate tremendous growth potential," he said.
"Ongoing development of the plantation and farm forestry industries is a significant priority for the Gallop Government.
"Plantations and farm forestry form the important third plank of the State Government's move towards a highly valued restructured timber industry and they are also integral to our greenhouse, salinity and sustainability strategies."
Membership of the advisory committee comprises Government, private growers, community, processors, harvesting contractors, housing and furniture industries and employee organisations.
"It is important the Government has a direct link to all those interests so we can develop a co-ordinated State policy and legislation that will bring about strong, united action on salinity, water quality and landcare issues as well as develop new industry and employment in regional areas," Mr Chance said.
"The establishment of the committee will enable agencies and private forestry interests to equally contribute their views and vision for the future direction of the industry."
The Minister said he agreed to form the committee in response to an industry request for representation and co-ordination at Government level.
The committee will provide advice to the Minister on policy issues, legislation, development of plantation processing industries, impediments to plantation development, integration with agriculture, environmental benefits and protection issues, harvest rights, planning and infrastructure and investment and taxation settings.
Mr Chance thanked the Regional Plantation Committees for their tremendous support and patience during the development of the new committee.
The members of the new Plantations Industry Ministerial Advisory Committee are:

• Murray Jorgensen, chairman of the Forest Products Commission
• Gavin Butcher, Forest Products Commission
• Tish Campbell, Timber Communities Australia
• Bob Chandler, Department of Conservation and Land Management
• Tim Daly, Australian Workers' Union
• Gavin Ellis, Great Southern Plantation Limited
• Kevin Forbes, Shire of Plantagenet
• David Gardner, Tree Growers WA
• Peter Taylor, Department of Agriculture
• Ian Hearn, Furniture Industry Association of Australia (WA)
• Julia Levinson, Timber 2002
• Jane Madgwick, World Wide Fund For Nature
• Leonie Offer, Trees South West
• Keith Parnell, Oil Mallee Association
• Bob Pearce, Forest Industries Federation (WA)
• Tony Pritchett, Housing Industry Association
• Paul Rose, Rose and Bending Forest Services
• John Ruprecht, Water and Rivers Commission
• David Wettenhall, Plantall Forestry Consultants and Institute of Forestry member.