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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3395 ..

(3) As a significant component of the AM firewood sales do not occur at a fixed business location no inspections have been carried out since the introduction of the licensing scheme. However Environment ACT staff will be undertaking an audit program of ACT based wood yards over the coming months.

(4) As outlined in (2) above information collected from a merchant as part of their annual review is considered in the decision about continuation of their authorisation. Environment ACT investigates any complaints it receives and takes action in line with its enforcement policy. The policy is based around an education philosophy, that is first offence - education, second offence - education and a warning of legal action and third offence - a brief of evidence is prepared and the matter is referred to the ACT Government Solicitor for possible legal action. This process is varied if the particular circumstances warrant. In response to the only formal complaint Environment ACT has received an investigation was undertaken and the merchant informed of the need to comply with the conditions of their authorisation.

(5) Once Environment ACT becomes aware of a person selling firewood without an authorisation they are contacted immediately and directed to cease operating until they are authorised by the EPA. This applies equally to commercial operators as well as individual householders who are attempting to sell timber that has resulted from tree pruning or removal operations.

Action in line with the enforcement policy outlined in (4) would be taken if a merchant continued to sell wood without an authorisation.

In terms of advertising Environment ACT has contacted the Canberra Times who have agreed not to take any advertisements from unauthorised merchants. Prior to this Environment ACT used to audit the For Sale section of the Canberra Times to ensure that there were no unauthorised merchants advertising firewood for sale.

(6) In addition to the authorisation conditions set by Subregulation 39A(l)(g) Environment ACT has included an annual report requirement in each authorisation. Under Condition 4 of their authorisation each merchant must provide an annual report to Environment ACT by 31 January following each reporting year using a fixed reporting template. The reporting year covers the period 1 January to 31 December.

The merchant is required to report the amount of wood they sold for all transaction during the year by set geographic regions and whether the source of the timber was plantation or non-plantation. This information is required for retail and wholesale transactions. This information is available from Environment ACT.

(7) No addition resources have been allocated for the authorisation of firewood merchants. Environment ACT currently administers 317 authorisations of which 27 are for the sale and supply of firewood.

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