Presentation by George Harris

Wapping

Telegraph branch

My name is George Harris. I have been a party member for 20 years, and a Labor
voter for almost 42 years. I turned 18 in 1972, but I couldnt vote in the Whitlam
victory election of that year, because at that time 18 year-olds didnt have the
vote. Voting age was 21.. Whitlam changed that in 1973, and my first vote was in a
winning election for Labor in May 1974. If I had been forced to wait until 21 my first
vote would have been in 1975, a losing election for Labor.
I am a self-employed woodworker. I design and make furniture and various products
using Tasmanias unique Special Timbers. I have been doing this for 35 years, and I
love it.
I spent my first seven years on my parents fruit farm at Sandfly, we grew apples,
black currants, red currants, and raspberries among others. My father was a strong
supporter of Bob Menzies and the Liberals, I think mainly because the waterside
workers always used to strike when farmers were trying to export fruit. I have since
come to realize that as unionists you dont wink in the dark, do you? You take action
that seizes the moment. I can just remember my father driving off in the new
Holden station wagon to go and vote in the federal election of 1961. I thought he
said he was going out in a boat, and I didnt think that was a very good idea. My
father died suddenly in 1962, and my mum had to sell the farm, and we moved to
Lindisfarne. In 1986 I bought back a small piece of the old farm when it came on the
market. In 1992 the Cascade Brewery advertised a large shed for sale for demolition
and removal. I bought it, and moved it to Sandfly, and set it up as my workshop,
which I continue to operate. I converted all my family members to voting Labor.
I am also an advocate for the timber industry in general, and Special Timbers in
particular. I call it arts-based industry, but I have to say, we are a threatened
species.
I have been contributing to the work of Labors Resources Policy Committee.
I am going to post a document with links that I hope you will be able to open and
read. It will provide information that I hope you will find useful.
Timber in a carbon-conscious future:
Trees store carbon. Lots of it. They suck carbon di-oxide out of the atmosphere, and
store it in their cellular structure. Trees are part of the living carbon cycle, and this
distinguishes their stored carbon from that in fossil fuels.
What happens when a tree dies? Eventually it falls over, lies on the forest floor, and
rots away, giving back its stored carbon to the soil and the atmosphere. Thats OK,
but there is something more useful that could happen.
Timber is a very useful material to humans. We have been around it for millennia,
and it compliments our physiology in ways many dont realize. Right now, in our

carbon-conscious world, timber is offering us a solution to a serious problem, if we

do two things: 1.) Take the stored carbon that a tree represents, remove it from the
forest, and convert it into a durable and treasured object with a long life-span, and it
becomes a carbon bank, or carbon store, and 2.) Simultaneously replace the
removed tree with a new seedling, seed, or planted tree, so that the site can have a
new living organism playing its role in the active carbon cycle. Over time the carbon
store grows, and the repeating process of growing and harvesting trees continues,
and can continue indefinitely.
If the harvest cycle is correct, and mimics nature for the most part, the locality
where the tree grows will show all the bio-diversity you could want, for both flora
and fauna, as well as for other human recreational pursuits, such as bushwalking,
mountain-biking, and whatever, as well as other commercial pursuits, such as
honey production and tourism ventures. I favour longer rotations for Eucalypts, such
as 80 years, or much longer for Special Timbers, (200 years or greater), in a
patchwork of smaller coupes that may overlap in a fashion in which many areas are
infrequently harvested, if at all. Meanwhile, we still have reserves, of various
categories, most of which preclude any harvesting. There needs to be a balance.
You cannot have all reserves and no timber production zones, just as you should
not have all production zones and no reserves. More on this later.
We have a forest management system that is internationally recognised as one of
the best on this planet, despite what the detractors might say. Check out the Forest
Practices Code online, and see what a Timber Harvesting Plan looks like, including
reserved areas within each coupe, (ie in addition to all the formal reserves), the
stream-side reserves, and the local application of the EPBC Act, which again despite
what some might say, goes even further than the Commonwealth requires.
So, timber is a RENEWABLE resource. It is low in embedded energy involved in its
production. Some materials are carbon-positive, that is, their use results in an
increase in atmospheric carbon pollution. Some are carbon-neutral, or even carbon
negative. The more towards neutral or negative a material is, the better. (I may
have this backwards, and I suspect the Americans measure it differently, and their
values are the opposite of this)
Some materials have an embedded energy component far greater than that of
timber. This can be compounded by centralization, such as with steel mills. There
are few left in Australia, and a transport component is added, where as timber
production is a widespread and decentralized activity. Steel mills use both steaming
coal and coking coal. Steaming coal for the electricity generation embedded in it,
and coking coal used in the blast furnaces in the smelting process.
Cement is intensely energy consumptive, and coal is often used directly in its
production as well. Reinforcing steel is a major component in concrete,
compounding its carbon consequence.
Timber has a far better carbon consequence than steel, concrete, aluminium or
plastics and other products derived from the petro-chemical industries.
The biggest new thing in timber construction is CLT, or Cross-Laminated Timber. It
was invented in Europe about 15 years ago, and is taking the world by storm. It is

causing a re-write in building codes all around the world, including in Australia, for
commercial, industrial, residential and public buildings. A 10-storey apartment
building with retail space at ground level was recently completed in Melbourne, in
CLT. This features in the links I am providing, including a time-lapse of its
construction.
Timber buildings have advantages in thermal performance, acoustic properties, and
cost-in-use. They are also quicker, cheaper, and more quiet to construct.
Researchers are finding timber buildings give people a greater sense of well-being
than those dominated by concrete, steel, and glass. People stay longer in timber
buildings, and feel happier. This is keenly noted by retail property developers, but
also noticed by developers of offices, schools and public buildings. Steel was big
news in construction in the 19th century, concrete in the 20th, and timber is a gamechanger in the 21st. We need to make sure we dont miss out, not only for the
economic opportunities, but for the important business of carbon accounting.
So much for the primary use of timber, but it also produces residues. These come
from both harvesting and processing. Ill explain. Not every standing tree is a saw
log. Some would send a saw mill broke if you expected them to try and saw them.
So what do you do? Eucalypt logs are graded into premium (sliced) veneer logs,
(Category 1), premium saw logs, (Cat. 2), down through standard, and utility
grades, rotary peel logs, (used to be pulp/chip logs), and into the lower grade
pulp/chip logs. Special Timbers logs graded separately. There is a limit to the
amount of residue that can lie on the ground after harvesting, as even regeneration
burning will not remove it all, and the objective above all is to regenerate good,
healthy forest. Eucalypts do not do well under shade, and you generally can not or
should not leave trees standing in Eucalypt forest harvesting and regeneration. The
CBS or Clear-fell Burn & Sow system was developed by studying Eucalypt forest
ecology, and there is a strong and peer-review affirmed scientific basis for it. If you
want to see an example of good regeneration of single-age forest, go and look at
the Tall Trees Reserve. It had its genesis in a natural fire event, and it is that we
seek to emulate, although with a much shorter rotation time.
Residues also come from processing, such as in a saw mill. Typically you get a
recovery rate in sawn timber of up to 35%. You cannot include heartwood or
sapwood, and due to its drying characteristics, you can only quarter-saw it. You
cannot back-saw Eucalypts. You then get 10% saw dust, and the balance of 55% is
residues that really should be chipped and sold as such. Chips are used to make
paper, which is really useful stuff. It can also be used to produce ethanol, which
would be a better alternative than petroleum products for transport. Such residue,
or biomass, is a source of THERMAL ENERGY. Think of this as more than just
electricity, but gee, some alternative source of that would be good around here at
the moment! Thermal energy can also mean heat. That is necessary in many
industries, including timber drying kilns, and food processing. Also useful for
domestic and commercial heating in reticulation systems in some circumstances.
Could heat commercial swimming pools, nursing homes, schools, etc. They do it in
Europe and Scandinavia!

Last year I moved a comprehensive motion on the timber industry, picking up many
of these points, especially overall support for all sectors of the industry, including
best use of residues, but also for a Wood First policy in considering the use of
timber in all public buildings, and the changes to legislation and the Building Code
that this would require. In many ways this is already happening, but we should give
it further encouragement, not only for the jobs it represents, but for the carbon
issue as mentioned.
Theres a few other issues.
Plantations. Plantations are a good idea, and we should have more of them. They
can be Hardwood, (Eucalypt), or Softwood, (Radiata Pine), an introduced species.
However , there are some problems. They have high up-front establishment costs,
and investors have been scared away by the MIS (Managed Investment Schemes)
debacle. That was not the industrys fault. It lost control of the initiative, and the
bean-counters and carpet-baggers moved in, and stuffed it up. Plantations cannot
be established by law and by certification requirements by harvesting and
conversion of existing native forest, especially where viable forest eco-systems
currently exist. They should be regenerated as native forest if harvested.
Plantations can be replanted if an existing plantation is harvested, but it must be
due, and viable. Conversion of existing or redundant agricultural land to plantation
can occur, but the economics must be right. I prefer regenerated native forest. It
looks better, has bio-diversity, including under-storey, and harbours native fauna.
Plantations are mono-culture, often suffer from intensity of competition between
stems, and are often prone to insect attack. Plantations are always under pressure
from compounding interest to be harvested sooner rather than later. From the
users point of view, the quality is often poor. Still, there is plenty of room in the
market place for utility grade timber. CLT for example.
If you think the Greens like plantations, you would be wrong. They hate them just as
much. They appear to be offering an alternative, but that is just used to encourage
an exit from native forest harvesting, which is a stupid idea.
On the subject of the Greens, I hate them with a passion. I hate their dishonesty and
their deceitfulness, especially as displayed during the TFA process, but all during the
last three decades. I hate the way they have sabotaged the industry, and aided and
encouraged others to do so, and the impact they have had.
Beyond that, I believe they are the greatest threat to the future of the Labor party,
and to Labor governments. I encourage disassociation and differentiation from the
Greens. I know many people for whom the Labor brand has been tarnished by
association with the Greens, and who will not support Labor because of a perception
Labor will be influenced by the Greens again in a future government, no matter
what some policy document might say. I believe there needs to be some strong,
undeniable public commitments made, and I personally am looking for that to
secure my support. I am very happy with the way policy has been re-written from a
clean slate within Tasmania, but I am very worried about numerous federal
members interstate, especially those playing to inner urban audiences in mainland
capital cities. I believe it is not a usual state for Labor to have only one member in
seats like Braddon and Franklin, but work has to be done to fix that.

I remain disappointed at how Labor policy was turned on its head at both federal
and state levels between 2010 and 2014, but recognise it was because of both
governments slipping into minority status and depending on the Greens, combined
with them simultaneously holding the balance of power in the senate. The 2013
TWWHA extension was an abuse of established process and protocol, and I believe
was even contrary to the UN Convention on World Heritage. It certainly was not on
the Indicative List, nor was it consulted with those affected, and as such was a
denial of Natural Justice. It also offended against the provisions of the RFA, a 20year agreement that expires in 2017. It had a major detrimental impact on the
Special Timbers sector, and seriously damages its future prospects.
I refer to the TFA and the extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage
Area as The Great Forest Swindle of 2013. Some of the details of what happened are
yet to fully come out. Some of the people involved from among the academics and
the ENGO side should never had anything to do with it. If you ever want to be truly
shocked, have a look at what the Wilderness Society and ET offered up as
Contingency Coupes for Special Timbers when asked. They had nothing in them!
Rocky outcrops, button grass plains, even mine tailings dams, and some areas that
had recently been harvested, some as recently as 2010, and regenerated with
Eucalypts! If there ever were Special Timbers on them, there might never be again,
or at least not for hundreds of years.
The business model for some environment groups relies on establishing and
maintaining an endless state of conflict. It is necessary to maintain the flow of
donations on which they use to provide activists in undemocratic organisations to
hold onto their generous incomes while attacking the jobs of decent hard-working
people. As a result it distresses me to see some workers as no longer regarding
Labor as representing their interests, as perceived from a closeness to the Greens
and their supporters.
One thing that always infuriates me about the Greens is that they are always talking
down the timber industry. Lately they have been criticising Forestry Tasmania
relentlessly, and while FT is in an awful position, (thanks in no small part to the
ENGOs deceit in the TFA process), they are trying to say the whole industry is like
that. It is not. They are trying to use it as an argument for shutting down FT. What
alternative regulatory system would they advocate, or are they trying to say shut
down the whole industry? Well, yes they are! Meanwhile, the figures say something
different:
Timber industry contribution to the Tasmanian economy:

Thats right up there with lies like: Its worth more standing. The above data
suggests that the employment of 1840 employees creates wages of $68,029 per
employee pa compared to the Tourism industry that employs 14,866 employees at
$35,526 per employee.
Under the current arrangements we have an opportunity to write a new Special
Timbers Management Plan, and in it representatives are seeking to negotiate the
best arrangements we can with what we have left. Two major incursions (2005 and
2013) reduced our Special Timbers Zone by 75% from what the RFA provided, both
driven hard by the Greens, and inadequately defended by Labor. Arising from the
TFA, in the current FT harvesting plans, we have a projected annual harvest for the
current year that is a reduction in volume of 93% from what the TFA promised. Much
of that was caused by roads and couped areas being locked up in new reserves, and
little money available to access new areas.
Every woodworker I know loves our wild places, me included. Every woodworker I
know wants to see our forests managed carefully and properly, and for there to be a
proper balance and harmony between conservation and resource use. If every time
the ENGOs came around, and we had to compromise, and give them something
into lock-ups, we would soon have nothing. My colleagues and I have a
management style in mind. We call it Tread widely, tread lightly. It doesnt mean
dont tread there at all. And of course it doesnt have the core area of the TWWHA in
its sights.
Still, more generally in the timber industry in Tasmania, there are some exciting
opportunities. Courses available through UTas, in both Launceston and Hobart are
cutting edge stuff, including partnerships with the private sector. See links.
Tasmania is still a great place to be an artist and a designer, especially with the
resources and opportunities now available, and of course with our unique Special
Timbers, which have been around for millennia, and which can be, with good
management, continue to be available in limited quantities for many generations
into the long distant future.
Did you know that some of the best furniture and product designers in Tasmania are
women?

I have barely scratched the surface here. I would like to continue a dialogue, and
encourage people to look at the additional information and the links I will provide.
Here is a start:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=vCcVxdMP_UM&index=38&list=UUn5NR2e7n_ZF5wG1Qpin-HA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLqiwBL28v4&list=UUn5NR2e7n_ZF5wG1QpinHA&index=10&feature=plcp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KFTGHD6OsI
http://prefablab.com.au/commercial-prototype/
and here are links to some of my own work:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/234874919/207339341-My-Furniture-in-Glass-andTimber
http://www.scribd.com/doc/212366382/Exotic-Timbers-There-is-no-substitute
and some Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/How-to-store-carbon-and-create-jobs1641880709421443/
https://www.facebook.com/TasmaniasSpecialTimbers/
https://www.facebook.com/Tasmanian-World-Heritage-Con-Job-the-truth-behind-the2013-extension-325896320896192/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000118556432
and some friends:
https://www.facebook.com/Mark-Gilbert-Guitars-232525413427870/?fref=ts in
downtown Hobart...
and...
http://www.denmanmarine.com.au/
http://www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2012/september-2012/Varg__the_rebirth_of_a_classic_eight_metre#.VtG96px96Co
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R5zKW3Y1U4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpJD0nSxN94