Mr. Brian Rushe:

I am constantly speaking to farmers about forestry. The frustrations in the industry are clear and have been put forward well. We have appeared before this committee time and again highlighting farmers' frustrations. We need to remind ourselves about the situation. Our farming sector is under severe pressure due to some of the targets that have been set for it by the climate action legislation. Farmers have not been hiding from that. They have engaged with research and examined ways of improving their farming and environmental sustainability. Forestry can be a significant part of the solution, not only for the environment, but also for helping farmers to diversify and strengthen their incomes. As Ms O'Sullivan and Mr. Fleming rightly stated, though, it is no longer seen as a safe investment. It is now a risky long-term investment and a bureaucratic nightmare. One of the main things that the Gresham House deal did was to disillusion the farming community more about forestry.

To borrow a line used by, I believe, Mr. Pat Glennon, the time for talking is done. I thank the committee for its work in highlighting this issue, but the forestry service – it needs to become a service – needs to start getting trees in the ground and to start supporting farmers better.