CONTROVERSY over the future of the Forest Products Commission (FPC) continued last week with claims Forestry Minister Terry Redman was attempting to hide his plan for the FPC.

Shadow Forestry Minister Mick Murray said Mr Redman had failed to provide any statements of corporate intent since becoming minister, despite being directed by legislation to produce a statement each financial year.

Mr Redman admitted in Parliament last week that he had failed to produce any, Mr Murray said.

“The minister then went on to admit that the auditor-general had written to the FPC about its non-compliance but was unable to say if the FPC had explained why it had breached the law,” he said.

Mr Redman said the auditor-general had recently advised Parliament that a statement of corporate intent (SCI) for the FPC had not been tabled for 2008-09 or 2009-10.

“The obligation to table the 2008-09 statement rested with the previous minister as it should have been submitted for the financial year commencing in July 2008,” he said.

“The obligation to table the 2009-10 statement fell to me, however the statement was not tabled because a major review of the future strategic direction of the FPC was being undertaken at the time.

“It was considered likely that the role and function of the FPC would change significantly as a result of that review, and that any information provided in a SCI at that time would not accurately reflect FPC’s true strategic direction.”

Mr Murray said the idea of an annual statement of corporate intent was to reflect the significant opportunities and challenges posed for that financial year.

“All the minister had to do was issue instructions to the commissioners to do this, not wait until three years down the track when he had finished his slash and burn program.”

Mr Murray said the minister had told Parliament he did not know when the statement of corporate intent would be tabled because he had to `refine’ it first.

“The minister has had two years to refine and table the FPC’s statement,” he said.

“Mr Redman has cut jobs because he claims the FPC is unsustainable and yet he refused to release the statement of corporate intent which would reveal the direction of the agency for the following year.

“He must release the statement as a matter of urgency.”

Mr Redman said the government would submit FPC’s SCI for 2010-11 and has asked that the auditor-general endorse a delayed timetable for its preparation and approval, in light of the ongoing restructure process.