Mr. Gerard Murphy:

There was a mix in those days of competitive tenders and locally negotiated contracts, which might have seen the best of three locally negotiated deals. In recent years we have moved substantially to full competitive tenders with well-published criteria. There are also longer-term contracts for people to give greater security of work.

Senator Daly asked a number of questions, with one relating to contract termination, obligations to replant and the element of cleaning up a site. To deal with the easiest item first, after any clearfell we need to leave a site in a position to allow for replanting. That would be part of any normal operations. The contracts terminate at the clearfell stage. The thinking behind the contracts at the time was to allow rotation, with revenues etc. flowing against the investment for that period.

People referred to a cost with respect to replanting, but I am a forester by training and we always see replanting as investment in the new crop. When replanting, it is about investing for the second generation of the crop. That is why it was kept separate and it would be seen as one project from establishment to clearfell. The land is given back to the farmer and it is his or her responsibility to replant that for a future crop.