Canberra Sets Direction for Timber Industry
8/25/99
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Title: Canberra Sets Direction for Timber Industry
Source: Environment News Service
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 25, 1999
CANBERRA, Australia, August 25, 1999 (ENS) - A major advance in the
development of an Action Agenda for the forest and wood products
industry took place last week when a broad cross section of industry
representatives met with the Federal Minister for Forestry and
Conservation, Wilson Tuckey, at Parliament House.
"The workshop builds on a highly successful meeting of industry
stakeholders in Melbourne nine months ago, and the many submissions
received by the government since on an Issues and Options paper for
the industry," Tuckey said.
"Priorities include tackling our $1.5 billion trade deficit in
forest, wood and paper products with a program of market and export
development, and promoting Australia's sustainable forest industry in
the international marketplace.
"The government will now work with industry to develop actions on
specific issues, aiming to announce the Agenda in March next year."
The workshop was addressed by Professor Jane Marceau, Pro Vice-
Chancellor (Research) at the University of Western Sydney, who urged
participants to encourage innovation across the industry - from
growing trees to marketing wood and paper.
Action Agendas are a key part of the Commonwealth Government's long
term strategy to develop Australian industry to 2010. They focus on:
? developing a common vision for the industry sector;
? identifying impediments to higher productivity and growth;
? reviewing new opportunities and identifying gaps in industry's
capacity to respond to those opportunities generating momentum for
industry-based reform and action.
Six focus groups will now develop specific actions to underpin future
industry growth and enhance our international competitiveness.