APPOINTMENT OF NEW TFCA EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The TFCA is very pleased to announce that Ed Vincent has been appointed to the position of Executive Officer, replacing Ferdie Kroon.

Ed brings to the Association over twenty years experience in small to medium business management in Tasmania, primarily in timber industry associated roles. He also has several years experience in executive and board roles within not for profit organisations.

With his vast business experience behind him, Ed possesses specific skills in the areas of Human Resources and Industrial Relations, business management and organisational skills and project management capabilities. He has fostered good relationships within political and media circles which will be extremely useful given the current position of our industry.

Ed will move into the chair at time when contractors are in great need of a leader and he is acutely aware of the many challenges facing our industry at present. Over the coming weeks and months he will work to address the issues of Structural Adjustment and will endeavour to achieve the best possible outcome for our contractors.

He will also continue to foster the strong relationships with our industry partners that were formed by Ferdie over the past few years as their support is vital for our continued existence.

Ed will commence duties on Tuesday 9^th March and once he is settled into the role he intends to make contact with and obtain feedback from members on current issues facing our industry.

We look forward to his arrival with much anticipation and congratulate him on his appointment.

Last week the Greens, headed by Sen Bob Brown, passed a motion in Federal Parliament calling for a $20 million assistance package for Tasmanian Forestry Contractors.  On its own, this may not be a big concern for members, but unfortunately Bob Brown tied this request to a Forestry Tasmania and Gunns payback arrangement as well as a corresponding forest resource lockup. 

Therefore it was soundly defeated by the Government and Opposition. 

TFCA lobbied hard though for the recognition of contractor issues and suggested to both the Government and Opposition that outright rejection without some acknowledgment of contractor’s issues will not help anyone. 

That said, we all know that the previous forest lockups have significantly contributed to the problems and anything further in this area will not help our sector or the industry generally.

Furthermore, TFCA is extremely disappointed with the efforts of Senator Brown to exploit the problems of forest contractors for his own political gain.  If you consider that he has significantly contributed to the industry’s woes especially through his own overseas misinformation campaigning, which has contributed to market access issues,  it is certainly disgraceful for him to be taking this current stance.  Given his recent success at raising money to pay his own legal bills, maybe he can now raise money for the industry and the communities that he so readily kicks.

Name

Company Name

Telephone Number

Email

Service Required

TFCA Business Services Wish to enquire about membership TFCA Industry Representation TFCA In Field Service

Your Enquiry

Copy the letters and/or numbers into the box provided

On Wednesday 11 November 2009one of TFCA’s Industry Partners, Safety and Fire Equipment, will be demonstrating a new product called Thermo-Gel.  This is a concentrate that, when added to water, transforms water into a fire preventing and heat absorbing gel.

Thermo-Gel can be used to:

1. Protect any surface including:hrubs, trees, windows, cladding, vehicles, machinery, fuel & LPG tanks, fence lines and power poles etc

2. Make fire breaks, corridors and enhance defensible space from bushfires

3. Reduce or negate the effects of windborne sparks and embers on buildings and vegetation

4. Reduce radiant heat on buildings and halt or check direct flame attack

The location for the demonstration is the Tasmanian Fire Service Training Facility in Cambridge.

More information is available from Safety and Fire Equipment on 6272 9800.

Name

Company Name

Telephone Number

Email

Service Required

TFCA Business Services Wish to enquire about membership TFCA Industry Representation TFCA In Field Service

Your Enquiry

Copy the letters and/or numbers into the box provided

 The Tasmanian Forest Contracting Association, (TFCA) which represents approximately 80% of Tasmania’s forest contractors, has today expressed concerns about a proposed acquisition by Gunns Ltd of ITC Timber calling into question the impact such a merger will have on competition in the Tasmanian Forestry industry. 

“A delay in the ACCC’s review of this latest proposal, whilst they seek further information from Gunns, makes one start to wonder whether this merger is the right thing for the industry.” TFCA’s CEO Mr Ferdie Kroon said today.

“We urge the ACCC to be thorough in their evaluation of the issue, as any major change in the industry must be in the best interest, and to the benefit of the entire supply chain and the communities that depend on the industry for their livelihoods,” Mr Kroon said.

“The TFCA are looking at this proposed merger objectively, and while the ACCC review is still underway, we feel a duty to explore some of the questions our contractors have been raising, such as, will the 2000 or so private farm foresters in Tasmania still receive a competitive price for their wood?”

“Will Tasmania’s sawmillers, big and small, be able to fairly compete for logs and timber or will country sawmills be choked out of business? And what will be the impact on the hard working family businesses that rely on harvesting, carting and moving this wood to sawmills and wood fibre processors?”

“These are questions coming from the little guys who plainly fear a monopoly being created in their industry,” said Mr Kroon.

“Just like many Tasmanians, the TFCA has concerns regarding big corporations decreasing competition in primary industries in the state generally. We need only look at the recent high-profile issues in the dairy industry where big corporates are tragically driving down prices paid to suppliers to unsustainable levels.”

“All of Tasmanian industries need to be aware of the risk imposed on the ability for little guys to compete openly and fairly under big corporate dominance.”

“ We need to understand fully how the proposed Gunns acquisition might impact the entire supply chain including contractors, private growers, farm foresters sawmillers, fibre exporters, and also other forestry companies who currently provide some healthy competitive tension,” said Mr Kroon.

“The ACCC is currently investigating the possibility of the Gunns acquisition as imposing decreased competition in the Tasmanian forestry industry, and it is expected to release their findings some time soon.”

“It’s vital that all questions are now raised so as to bring to light any areas of concerns before it is too late,” said Mr Kroon.

- ENDS -

The Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association will conduct its Annual Members Meeting and Stakeholder Session in Launceston on 23 October 2009.  The emphasis is very much on helping members, their families and employees as well as other industry participants come to terms with the many health and financial impacts of this downturn.  Session presenters include the Rural and Financial Counselling Service as well as Rural Alive and Well.

There will also be an information session on the impacts of the Fair Work Act 2009 including a brief introduction to award modernisation and the National Employment Standards.  Participants will be provided with copies of TFCA’s appropriate Advisory Notes on these issues.

Of particular interest to the cartage employees will be a session on TruckSafe, which is an excellent industry accreditation system aimed at helping cartage members address all of their compliance requirements using tried and tested management systems.  The potential savings to carters, regardless of size, are significant and something to consider during this downturn when things are tight and it is important to save money and achieve great productivity and safety outcomes.

There will also be an update on the Industry’s Draft Strategy.

For more information, please use the contact form below.

Name

Company Name

Telephone Number

Email

Service Required

TFCA Business Services Wish to enquire about membership TFCA Industry Representation TFCA In Field Service

Your Enquiry

Copy the letters and/or numbers into the box provided

TFCA bids goodbye to one of its long-standing and hardworking staff members today and, at the same time, we welcome a new staff member. 

John Triffitt, TFCA’s Administration Manager, leaves today to take on a new and exciting role with another company.   John is certainly an excellent employee who worked extremely hard for TFCA’s members.  He will certainly be missed and we wish him well for the future.

John will be replaced Chris Rudland, TFCA’s new Administration Manager.  Chris, who possesses extensive financial and managerial experience, will work for TFCA on a part time basis.  This in turn will necessitate some changes in functions and even office hours, but membership services will not be affected.

So best wishes and thanks for a job well done to John and a big welcome to Chris.

The state of the forest contracting sector in Tasmania is getting worse by the day.  The issues confronting contractors include uncertain contractual arrangements, inability to obtain finance and, in some cases, re-finance.  Many who want to sell out can’t because of second hand equipment prices and debt levels.

The major principals in Tasmania are struggling to keep the quotas up to the majority of their contractors and continued low production scenarios, which have been in play now for almost 12 months, are causing serious grief.  The effects within many communities and amongst the many businesses that support forest contractors should not be underestimated.

Whilst TFCA applauds the State Government’s efforts to review the contractual arrangements, TFCA echos the calls by the State Liberals for industry restructure arrangements that may include low interest loans and even facilitated exit and consolidation arrangements.  TFCA has been arguing for this for many years and we urge both the Federal and State Governments to act urgently. 

It is obvious that there are too many contractors, especially in the current economic environment, but this situation will not change even when increased production returns because our forest resources are changing.  Letting these business simply ‘wither on the vine’ is not the answer though, especially when you consider the amount of investment involved, the numbers of employees affected and the numbers of supporting businesses left out of pocket.  It is also true that in many cases, the contractors are not too blame for the predicament that that they find themselves in.  Market, forest resource and even contractual arrangements are not something that contractors can control.

TFCA is pleased to launch a new version of our website that will provide increased access for contractors, their families, their employees and their communities to a whole range of information that affect their operations.

This website is still evolving and it will shortly have a members only section that will provide specific information to members as well as include copies of all of TFCA’s Advisory Notes.

Additionally, TFCA’s much valued industry partners will be able to increase their exposure through adding more details of services and/or products, promoting special arrangements and providing direct linkages to their own websites.

The most important aspect of this website update is to provide members with access to real time information about TFCA’s services and activities.   Members can then be more responsive to issues affecting them and hopefully save money which is critical, especially in the current difficult environment.

The Federal Government recently confirmed that all new model vehicles sold after 2011 will be fitted with front underrun protection systems (FUPS), with all new trucks to carry the device 12 months later.  All new heavy rigid trucks as well as semi trailers will be affected.

TFCA recently responded to the National Transport Commission’s draft position paper on reducing paperwork on the road.  A copy of TFCA’s submission is reproduced below.

Electronic Systems for Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue and Speed Compliance: Draft Position Paper

The Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association (TFCA) represents a number of businesses responsible for transporting wood products throughout Tasmania.  TFCA’s members and their employees are primarily involved in transporting timber from coupes to various processing facilities and, as such, operate on many of Tasmanian’s urban and rural road networks.  The majority of TFCA’s members are small to medium business owners.

TFCA certainly welcomes the debate about any efforts to reduce paperwork on the road.  This debate though must be underpinned by a detailed cost-benefit analysis that takes into account various heavy vehicle users and where they operate.  In simplistic terms, efforts to impose electronic arrangements onto the forest products transport sector in Tasmania will not be welcomed by the many small businesses that are struggling in a ‘price taking environment’.  Whilst TFCA appreciates that many of these businesses may benefit from paperwork changes in the long term, the short term cost is still difficult to comprehend. With this in mind, not every business is able to take advantage of economies of scale either, neither are they able to simply pass costs on.  It seems as if the regulators and even some of the policy people are quick to pass costs onto the heavy vehicle sector without really analysing the full effects of their decisions.

It is worth noting as well that Tasmania is yet to adopt the national work diary provisions and is still very much operating on State based arrangements.  Therefore Tasmanian operators could feasibly be confronted with two significant record keeping arrangement changes, that is, adoption of national arrangements followed shortly thereafter by electronic requirements.  TFCA encourages the NTC to fully consider the potential ramifications of this ‘double change’.

Within the Tasmanian forest industry, many of the stakeholders have had to come to terms with electronic sawlog docket arrangements.  It is TFCA’s personal experience that this process has taken many years to effectively implement and we are still confronted with various technical problems.  One of the key learning outcomes from this process has been the need for backup arrangements if technology ‘breaks down’.  Such alternate arrangements must be flexible enough to limit downtime and cost.

TFCA notes the discussion within the position paper about electronic signatures and password arrangements.  TFCA has not developed any firm policy in this area but we recognise its importance and strongly submit that any arrangement must be both user friendly and secure at the same time.  TFCA also acknowledges the ongoing need for driver input and we support the proposed change to the ‘counting time method’.  TFCA also welcomes further debate into the sanctions policy especially given the ability of telematics to readily identify and flag minor speed breaches.

Whilst TFCA is generally supportive of options that may make record keeping easier, we certainly could not support a mandated electronic arrangement.  In our view, the position paper does not readily identify the short and even long term benefits for the various groups of heavy vehicle users and this is critical going forward.  It is also our view that, in the same way that creating a suitable environment for electronic use is important, so to is the maintenance of an efficient manual record keeping environment.  TFCA though would consider supporting the creation of a suitable transitional scenario providing it was accompanied by the implementation of Government funded incentive grants to assist small to medium operators move to an electronic system.

TFCA welcomes the opportunity to participate in any further debate about this matter.