Native timber industry roles

Operational functions

• Supports the Minister for Agriculture (as relevant Minister) to administer the Allocation Order.
• Provides policy advice to the Minister for Agriculture on the Allocation Order.
• Supports the Minister for Agriculture to administer the Forests (Wood Pulp Agreement) Act 1996 and the Legislated Agreement with Australian Paper.
• Supports the implementation of the Victorian Forestry Plan.

Accountability and reporting

• Responsible for forest industries policy.

Function in relation to VicForests

• Supports the Minister for Agriculture (as the relevant minister) to fulfil their duties relating to VicForests.
• Monitors and advises on VicForests' financial performance and compliance with corporate governance requirements.
• Works with the Department of Treasury and Finance on any amendments to the VicForests’ establishing Order in Council 2003 (as amended) and any directions that may be made jointly by the Minister for Agriculture and the Treasurer under the State Owned Enterprises Act 1992.
• Leads the process for the Minister (jointly with the Treasurer) to appoint VicForests’ Board Directors, in consultation with the Department of Treasury and Finance.

Regulation

• Monitors and enforces offences in timber harvesting safety zones to maintain public safety.
• Reconciles the gross area of coupes harvested by VicForests with the allocated areas.

Function in relation to VicForests

• Supports the Treasurer (as the sole shareholder of VicForests) to fulfil their duties relating to VicForests.
• Monitors and advises on VicForests':
  • Financial performance
  • Compliance with corporate governance requirements
  • Establishing Order in Council 2003 (as amended) and any directions under the State Owned Enterprises Act 1992 and other relevant Acts, functions, operations, and industry issues
• Facilitates the Treasurer’s (joint) approval of VicForests’ board appointments.

Operational functions

• Timber Release Plans – prepares and approves Timber Release Plans for eastern Victoria
• Harvesting –
  • Undertakes pre-harvest assessments
  • Calculates the volume of timber that can be harvested
  • Constructs access roads
  • Rehabilitates and regenerates forests
• Sale of timber resources –
  • Sells and supplies timber resources from State forests
  • Develops and manages an open and competitive sales system for timber resources
• Timber Utilisation Plans - prepares and approves Timber Utilisation Plans for western Victoria
• Acts as the State’s agent in meeting the supply obligations in the legislated agreement governing the supply of pulpwood to Australian Paper - the Forests (Wood Pulp Agreement) Act 1996.

Accountability and reporting

• Financial management –
  • Develop an annual Corporate Plan (including a Business Plan and a Statement of Corporate Intent)
  • Prepare annual reports and financial statements for tabling in Parliament
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant standing directions issued by the Minister for Finance under the Financial Management Act 1994.
• Responds to Sustainability Charter – shows targets against the Sustainability Charter and how they will be met in the Statement of Corporate Intent. Reports on the status or achievements of Sustainability Charter targets.
• Harvesting and regeneration – reports annually on:
  • the area of harvest
  • regeneration results
  • compliance with Allocation Order 2013 five-year harvest area limits.

Regulation

• Timber harvesting regulatory framework – meets the regulatory requirements