Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for taking that on notice. It is regrettable that he has not been fully briefed to answer questions in question time on this important issue. Is the minister aware of comments by Mr Rob McGavin, of a company called Boundary Bend, that the government ‘has no idea of the impact this decision has on our business and has not consulted’? Robert Hance, CEO of Timbercorp said, ‘In not establishing a formal process of consultation and review, how can the government have any sense of the economic and social impact of their action on rural Australia?’ Can the minister explain why the government have not undertaken consultation with the industries and communities affected before making such a damaging announcement?