ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

The Department provides the Minister for Economic Development, Energy and Resources with advice on forest policy and mining infrastructure projects.

Key Clients
The major client of this Output Group is the Minister for Economic Development, Energy and Resources.

How this Output Group is delivered
This Output Group is delivered by Departmental officers in liaison with industry and other Government departments, business enterprises, statutory authorities and SOCs

Achievements Against Strategies Identified for 2002/2003

The Department has a lead role in overseeing the implementation of the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA), in particular progressing the five-year review of implementation of the RFA. The Resource Planning and Development Commission completed the review in December 2002.
Forest policy support has been integrated into the approach to new industry projects, especially the Huon Wood Centre project.
The Forest Policy Unit has continued to work with the Local Government Forestry Consultative Committee on forestry issues of relevance to local government. The Committee is addressing issues relating to planning, transport, water and social issues. In particular, the Department has begun a revision of the 2001 Rural Land Use Trends in Tasmania Report in consultation with local government, the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment and Private Forests Tasmania.
The Forest Policy Unit has facilitated the preparation by industry of the first Code under the Forestry (Fair Contracts Code) Act 2001. The Code was approved by both Houses of Parliament in June 2003 and will become operative from 1 July 2003.
The Department supported the Minister for Economic Development, Energy and Resources' initiative in the marketing of the State's rich mineral resource. In cooperation with the Department of Economic Development, the benefits and opportunities of Tasmania were promoted at functions arranged by the Department and hosted by the Minister in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. At each function, while mining was the primary focus, all those attending also left with a Tourism Tasmania Travel Planner.
The Department also worked with the Department of Economic Development on the production of a mining marketing CD. Again, while the main focus was on the mining development potential of the State, links were included to a wide range of other available resources, including the Infrastructure and Resource Information Service (IRIS).