Timber Workers for Forests is calling today for Forestry Tasmania to immediately cease hardwood log exports from Tasmania amid fears that Tasmania is losing money on the practice and that Tasmanian taxpayers are picking up the tab.
A recent article in 'InWood' magazine made it clear that the New Zealand
whole log trade is now unviable and has been crippled by:
*The fastest rise in freight costs for 25 years (up 150% in one year) adding
US$200,000 to the cost of the 54 day journey to Asia.
*Poor export log prices.
*An unfavourable shift in exchange rates that is disadvantaging exports.
Why are we continuing to export whole logs when our neighbours have admitted that it is no longer viable. Is this yet another example of our forest resources being flogged off to allcomers while the people of Tasmania are left to pick up the tab?
Whole log exports from Tasmania reached a new high last year at 158,000 tonnes. Forestry Tasmania's justification that the logs are being used for rotary peeling trials in Korea and China is now wearing thin - How much wood do they need for a trial and at what cost?.
Timber Workers for Forests is also concerned that export from the Hobart wharf has become shrouded in secrecy - The logs are now being squirreled away into shipping containers to hide the embarrassing Third-World image of the log pile on our wharf. If they are that ashamed of it then let's see them stop the practice.
Cessation of whole log exports would be welcomed by Tasmanian sawmillers who will be guaranteed a greater supply of quality regrowth logs in the future.
Small sawmills across the State are currently being decimated and have declined by 170 in two decades. Many remaining mills are unhappy about their resource allocation and the whole log exports are a slap in the face to the millers.
On the waterfront:
Picture ...
Graham Green is President of Timber Workers for Forests.
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Monday, February 16, 2004
