Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 7:11:15 to 7:16:32
The department addresses concerns regarding non-compliant timber imports and the enforcement of sanctions against Russian timber products entering the Australian market.
Topics: Forestry, International law
Speakers: Hon Matthew Canavan, Guy Bursle, Matt Lowe, Senator Glenn Sterle, Speaker 24
different view that farmers don't deserve support but well the government has that view but they're happy to support other industries um uh in I just want to move to Russian timber I believe the uh department has commissioned some uh uh work on whether or not imported timber products are matching their declared country. Uh the information I have before me is that of a sample of 74 imported products, 37 uh half of them did not meet um uh did not match their declared country. Is that correct? And what has been the follow-up then to that finding?
>> Yeah. So I think um what what you might be referring to and I'll I'll um defer to the team for the details Senator um but we do have um the illegal logging prohibition act 2020 and that um is to address the legality of the harvest of timber and wood products that enter the Australian market. So it's not about country of origin per se. It's about the legality of harvest and whether that timber was harvest illegally.
>> Right. Okay. So mischaracterize that we operate. >> So that this I'm I'm referring to a testing that was done by source certain. Does that make sense to you? >> You apparently commissioned a an entity
we're aware of industry engagement of source certain to undertake some testing. More recently the department has in the in years past also engaged source certain as part of work to explore uh the timber testing powers that were introduced to reforms to the illegal logging prohibition act uh a couple of years ago now.
>> Right. Okay. So that was a couple years ago. Um well that it might be a couple years old this this this information. I
I am aware, Senator, that industry's done more recent testing which which might be though I'm not sure whether that's public yet.
>> Right. Well, it sounds like there's seemingly a fair amount of non-compliance. What's happening to make sure we enforce
>> Uh so we the department and it's not led by my branch, it's led by out in outcome too, but certainly happy to speak to it in principle. Uh we have uh compliance arrangements that do audit assessments of the due diligence that uh importers are required to undertake under the illegal logging prohibition act uh which looks to ensure that they are asking the right questions of across the supply chain about the country of a number of kind of indicators of legality. Um so that works underway. But it's worth pointing out uh that illegal or the presence of Russian timber is not necessarily an issue for illegality under the illegal logging prohibition act. Um the illegal and prohibition act looked at looks at legality in the country of harvest. Um and there are separate sanctions issues that attach
>> but we also have sanctioned Russia. There's a separate government policy decision to not allow Russian products into our country. from those act.
>> Yeah, those the those sanctions issues are under DEFAT, the Autonomous Sanctions Act, I believe.
>> So, you haven't been involved in any audits in regards to that?
>> They're not within our purview. Certainly, we've shared information that we've received from industry uh with DEFAT and Border Force
>> because it does seem to be some complaints, is it fair, from industry, that Russian timber is arriving in
>> Yes. >> those those um um concerns have been re relayed directly to us um by industry as well
>> and that and that's a matter for DEFAT to enforce >> the sanctions regime. Yes. >> Okay, we'll take it up >> with them. Um okay. Uh now I've got a couple of other topics. Uh chair
if cuz you're the last speaker I believe for outcome one. Is that correct? How
long do you reckon you need? Cuz we can
go into smoke later if it
>> I probably need 5 10 minutes.
>> Why don't we keep going now and then we'll just have a delayed break.
>> No problems. We happy. Um I just want to check this will be very quick. I believe the it might have been covered early. The funding to sheep produces Australia. Has that all been spent? I thought I heard $800,000.
>> Was that for the future
>> she
uh work? Uh I believe that um has been spent and um is acquitted.
>> Okay. And was the uh report prepared uh well was the money spent for the Renie advisory report paid out of that $800,000 or was that a separate grant?
>> I might get my colleagues to assist me
>> Uh yes, Senator, the $800,000 paid for the report, the economic analysis, and the stakeholder consultation.
>> Okay. All right. Uh now I'm going to be um going through quick here so sorry if there's other people but I want to ask about APMA APMA fees. So I believe I should ask it here because I think this is a policy decision to increase those although you can tell me if I should ask them later. Is it