00:00 In a southwest forest near Collie, stockpiles of Jarrah hardwood, normally destined for
00:08 local sawmillers, to be processed for furniture and construction.
00:14 But timber industry observers fear this wood won't be transformed into a fine table or
00:19 chair but burnt as firewood.
00:21 To see these logs going for firewood would be a criminal waste.
00:24 It just shouldn't happen.
00:25 Three weeks ago Jay Branson, together with other millers, were told by the Forest Products
00:30 Commission, which controls wood contracts, their supplies of saw logs was stopping immediately.
00:37 We budgeted upon there being some form of disruptions because of the downturn in the
00:42 industry but did not budget upon it being five months that it would cease.
00:47 The Forest Industry Federation is accusing the state government of breaking a promise
00:52 by stating that supply contracts would be honoured to the end of 2023.
00:58 Now we hear that the government has changed its decision, is reneging on those commitments
01:03 that it's given to the industry and has directed contractors to focus on firewood production
01:09 rather than saw log production.
01:11 The Minister for Forestry, Jackie Jarvis, has rejected the concerns.
01:16 She declined an interview, instead issuing a statement which says that sawmills signed
01:22 a deed of contract that stated their log supply would stop once they start receiving compensation
01:28 payments to transition out of the industry.
01:32 The government appear to be worried that they're running out of firewood and so they're now
01:35 prioritising firewood over other products.
01:38 They're not supplying sawmills and yet saw logs are being produced.
01:41 A new forest management plan due to commence in 2024 is currently being considered by the
01:48 EPA.
01:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]
Comments