Cairns to host Indigenous forestry workshop

Cairns will host the fourth in a series of eight national consultation workshops on 13 July under the Australian Government’s National Indigenous Forestry Strategy (NIFS).

Chair of the NIFS Steering Committee, Mike Macnamara, said the strategy is being developed by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), with assistance from other government agencies, and is designed to boost the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the forestry sector. 

“In 2003, we asked BDO Consulting to scope the opportunities for greater Indigenous involvement in Australia’s forest industries,” Mr Macnamara said. “We also asked BDO to look at the barriers preventing Indigenous Australians from becoming involved in forestry.

“The resulting report acted as the basis for the draft NIFS Strategy.

“The workshop series represents the second phase of consultations, and will allow us to present the strategy to the Indigenous communities that have provided valuable input into its development.” 

Mr Macnamara said the workshops provide an opportunity for Indigenous communities to discuss the direction of the proposed strategy and ensure it meets the needs they outlined during the initial consultations. 

“These follow-up consultations will help ensure we develop a strategy that delivers practical, long-term benefits to all parties and can demonstrate tangible, on-the-ground results,” he said.

“The first three workshops were held in timber communities in Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria. After Barmah, the remaining workshop will be held in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and NSW.”

Background information on the NIFS is available on the DAFF web site www.daff.gov.au/nifs.

Cairns workshop details:

When: 10am Tuesday 13 July

STATE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Cairns Port Authority Building
Cnr Hartley and Grafton Streets
Cairns Qld 4870 

For more information on the workshop contact Mark Annandale on (07) 4048 1111 or 0429 474 850.

Media contact:

Mike Macnamara DAFF Media +61 2 6272 3232