AFWI DECISION HIGHLIGHTS SA LABOR FAILURES ON FORESTRY

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

AFWI DECISION HIGHLIGHTS SA LABOR FAILURES ON FORESTRY

Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP has voiced his disappointment that the Green Triangle has been overlooked in the Federal Government’s attempts to build our nations forestry research and development capability through a research institute, Australian Forest and Wood Innovation (AFWI).

Last year, it was announced that the University of Tasmania (UTAS) would host AFWI, a national research institute committed to advancing research and innovation to support Australia’s vital forest and wood product industries, by drawing on the best researchers and facilities across Australia.

Today, the Albanese Government has announced the two regional hubs will be established at the University of the Sunshine Coast and University of Melbourne supporting UTAS. Each research centre will have access to $24.5 million in funding as part of the more than $100 million AFWI grant agreement with UTAS.

Mr Pasin said the Coalition Government invested in a forest and forest product research sector based in Mount Gambier and that this existing capability was now under threat.

“Failure to secure an Australian Forest and Wood Innovation research hub in Mount Gambier is a huge loss to our region and yet another example of the inability of our State Labor Government to lobby their Federal Labor mates and stand up for South Australia,” Mr Pasin said.

“The Green Triangle offered an unapparelled opportunity for continued Australian Government investment in forest and forest product research and development given the regions 140-year history in growing and producing world renowned forest products and the inherent understanding that exists locally of forest and forest products research requirements,”

“Mount Gambier has well established research capability through UniSA, which to date has been highly valued by the local industry and the national sector. Without the ongoing support from the Federal Government, this local research capability will at best be severely diminished, at worst lost completely,”

“Premier Malinauskas loves to come to Mount Gambier for a photo opportunity with Minister Scriven to suggest his Government supports the forestry industry but where are they standing up for the Green Triangle and lobbying their Federal Labor counterparts when we need them? Labor sold our forests and it seems they still don’t understand the importance of the industry to our region,” Mr Pasin said.

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