Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Abetz, and it is regarding the impending closure of the Auspine mill at Scottsdale with the loss of 300 jobs. Can the minister tell the Senate how many millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money have gone into the establishment of plantations now controlled by Taswood which are going to be denied to Auspine? Would the minister use his good offices to establish an independent review of the contractual arrangements, particularly considering the offer by Auspine to match any of its competitor’s prices in ensuring it got a pine supply to the Scottsdale mill to protect the 300 direct and 700 indirect jobs now threatened to be lost?