Tasmanian Forestry Company Admits Logs Sent to Victoria, Contradicting Earlier Testimony

Tasmania's public native forestry company has corrected its earlier parliamentary testimony, admitting that some sawlogs were sent interstate for processing, contrary to previous assurances. Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) initially stated that all logs from public native forests were processed within the state.

“

STT's acting chief executive officer advised that all sawlogs delivered by STT to its customers were processed in Tasmania. That advice was understood to be correct at the time, and it was provided in good faith.

However, Tasmanian sawmill operator James Neville-Smith confirmed to ABC Four Corners that logs had indeed been sent to Victoria. Processors in Victoria had received compensation from the Victorian government as part of its industry shutdown, a factor contributing to the decision to process logs elsewhere. Logs bearing Tasmanian state forest stickers were observed at a mill in Powelltown, Yarra Valley, another recipient of Victorian government compensation.

“

STT was not informed of these arrangements at the time.

STT's acting chief executive officer, Dean Kearney, wrote to a government business scrutiny committee to update the record. He stated that while the previous advice was given in good faith, STT has since become aware that a small quantity of sawlogs delivered to Tasmanian customers were onsold and processed interstate. STT was reportedly not informed of these arrangements at the time.

“

It will be included in contracts under negotiation to cover 2027 to 2040.

The company noted that contracts with sawmillers did not previously include an explicit requirement for logs to be processed in Tasmania. This will be rectified in contracts under negotiation for 2027 to 2040, which will reflect the growing role of Tasmania's plantation timber resources. Resources Minister Felix Ellis described the situation as "disappointing" upon learning that logs from Tasmanian public forests had been onsold to interstate processors.

“

He was later made aware that some were being onsold to interstate processors. Mr Ellis described that as "disappointing".