Tasmania RFA: First five year review

The Tasmanian Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) completed the first five-year review of progress with implementation of the Tasmanian RFA in late 2002.  The purpose of the review was to assess progress in implementing specified commitments and milestones of the RFA, not to examine its merits, structure or to renegotiate the RFA.

In its Report, the RPDC made 30 recommendations to ensure continued progress and improvement, where needed, in implementation of the RFA.  The RPDC considered the Australian and Tasmanian Governments (the Parties) had made substantial progress in implementing the RFA.

Since the Report was tabled in Federal Parliament, the Parties have studied its findings closely, particularly the 30 recommendations, and also listened to the concerns and comments from industry, environmental groups and the wider community.

On 13 May 2005 the Prime Minister and Tasmanian Premier signed a Supplementary Tasmanian RFA.  The Supplementary Agreement represents a full and final response on behalf of both the Parties to the Report. The Governments’ commitment to addressing the recommendations of the review is set out in Clauses 3 to 5 of the Supplementary Agreement.  The Tasmanian Government has already implemented or made substantial progress on many of the recommendations, for example the improvements to the Forest Practices System.  This agreement directly addresses other key recommendations such as the review of the Permanent Forest Estate Policy and industry development.

Further details of the review, the RPDC's Background Report and the RPDC's Final Recommendation Report are available on the Tasmanian Planning Commission's (TPC) website. The TPC replaced the RPDC in September 2009.