Policies

TFGA position: Recognise the use of residues and low quality timber for energy to be an important part of the Tasmanian forest industry

This policy regards the use of biomass (biological material derived from living or recently living organisms) and turning it into bioenergy (a form of renewable energy derived from biomass). This type of energy production can create opportunities for value adding by using low value biomass waste and turning it into biofuel. The policy outlines ways that this can be achieved in the context of Tasmania and Tasmanian forests.

TFGA positions: Tasmania has an advantage in the optimal environment for tree growing. Private forests are an integral part of quality wood. Tasmania does not have the capacity to fund the management and maintenance of large areas of our landscape from the public purse. Social, environmental and economic outcomes attained through private native forestry are recognised.

This policy relates to the use of private forests in order for farmers to best utilise their land. Over half of Tasmania’s 6.84 million hectares is under conservation reserves. This policy aims to address the issue of the vast areas of land and forest to manage, focusing on landowners. It accounts for the environmental, social and economic factors and provides detailed research on the topic.

TFGA positions: Support culling of deer to control numbers and prevent crop decimation; Maintain the recreational deer season; Support 5-year Crop Protection Permits; Support no tags for crop protection purposes for both stags and does outside of the fawning season; Economic benefit is available for farmer to utilise ie. hunters pay to come on farm to shoot deer; and support the sale of deer meat for human and/or pet consumption.

This policy relates to the wild fallow deer issue that fallow deer pose a threat to agriculture, in the following ways: damage and competition for livestock grazing pasture, damage to crops, a potential disease vector for domestic livestock, damage to native vegetation through browsing, and impacts to native animal species through disturbance of breeding sites. Fallow deer tend to have the greatest impacts on improved pastures due to their numbers and preference for grazing improved pasture compared with other deer species.
Through a recent survey undertaken by TFGA the results showed that the majority, being at least 90% or more, of those surveyed are demanding that deer be classified as a feral pest and should not be partly protected. The respondents also very strongly indicated that they support a 5-year crop protection permit, no tags for both stags and does for crop protection purposes and deer meat should be available for human and/or pet consumption.