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Forestry

Facilitating productive, competitive and sustainable forest industries

Logging plant with piles of logs

Resource security underpins the long-term direction of Victoria’s timber industry under a new strategy released in December 2009.

The Timber Industry Strategy outlines four priority areas and 13 broad actions to support a competitive, productive and sustainable Victorian timber industry.

The four priorities are:

  • the development of a productive, competitive and sustainable timber industry
  • the development and support of efficient timber markets
  • innovative forestry science, technology, and practice change
  • strong timber industry communities.
Treetops

Other key aspects relate to well-regulated forest activities, secure and competitive investment frameworks, strong governance, improved infrastructure and logistics, a safe and skilled workforce, and assistance to enable the industry to adapt to environmental, social and economic change.

The strategy will assist industry to raise the economic value of Victoria’s timber production and processing in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.

More than 50 industry, environment and community stakeholders had input into the strategy’s development. Three stakeholder round-table meetings addressed issues arising from the formal submissions.

Victoria’s timber industry has an annual turnover of $3 billion, which equates to 37 per cent of the net value of the Australian industry.

On 29 April 2010, the Minister for Agriculture became the relevant Minister for VicForests, a state-owned business corporation responsible for the sustainable harvest and sale of native forest timbers from Victoria’s public forest estate.

The Minister takes on many of the roles previously assigned to the Treasurer relating to government oversight of VicForests’ operations, including its commercial charter and customer relationships.

The Treasurer retains responsibilities primarily relating to the financial oversight of the company.

The new governance arrangements will ensure that each Minister is accountable for matters more closely aligned to their portfolio responsibilities.

DPI will provide support services to the Minister for Agriculture.

Case Study
GRADuating to a career

Policy analyst, Anthony Dean, came to DPI via the GRAD initiative.

Known more formally as the Graduate Recruitment and Development scheme, it offers graduates an opportunity to learn about government and contribute to a range of initiatives during a 12-month development program.

Anthony, whose academic background is in economic statistics and political science, entered the GRAD program in 2008 and rotated through the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office and DPI.

At the Auditor-General’s office, he carried out a performance audit of local government enforcement of planning permits before moving to DPI where he became involved in forest industry policy. Earlier, at DHS he undertook policy research and analysis.

Anthony returned to DHS after completing the GRAD program, and then came across to DPI in September 2009 to work on finalising the Timber Industry Strategy. He works in Agriculture and Forest Industries Policy in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Division.

“As a policy analyst, I cover a range of matters related to forestry such as water, planning schemes and permits, climate change, forest certification, industry finance, native title, renewable energy, legislation and regulations and a number of other areas.

“It is interesting and engaging to work on whole-of-government policy that directly impacts on industry and the community, especially in an area with strongly held and often opposing community opinions,” Anthony said.

Although he does not have a background in forestry, Anthony enjoys the diversity of his role and the different areas he is able to learn about while also increasing his knowledge of Victoria’s forestry and timber industries.

In 2011, about 120 graduates will have an opportunity through the GRAD program to follow in Anthony’s footsteps.