The reason behind Minister Guy Barnett's silence and evasion on critical timber supply questions has become crystal clear today with the release of Sustainable Timber Tasmania's annual report.
Shadow Resources Minister Shane Broad said the report reveals that under Mr Barnett's watch STT produced only 115,000 cubic metres of high-quality eucalypt saw logs, missing its legislated target by 22,000 cubic metres.
"For months now Labor has been asking important questions of this Minister in relation to Sustainable Timber Tasmania and Mr Barnett has made an art form out of evasion, avoidance and out-and-out refusal to answer," Dr Broad said.
"The Liberals and Guy Barnett have continually avoided discussing industry concerns about STT's ability to deliver the legislated volume of 137,000 cubic metres of saw logs every year until 2027 and now we know why - they always knew they were going to fall short of their guaranteed supply.
"Mr Barnett should not be hiding critical details in the small print in the annual report.
"The sustainable forest industry is worth $1.2 billion to the state's economy and it employs thousands of Tasmanians but under this Minister both the economy and the industry and the jobs it supports are being badly let down.
"Mr Barnett owes Tasmanians an explanation as to why on his watch - yet again - important areas of government are falling to pieces."
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Resources Minister
