Given that illegal and unsustainable timber harvesting is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries such as Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and that the Prime Minister made a pre-election promise to ‘restrict’ the importation of illegal timber:

(1)   How and when does the Government intend to honour this commitment?

(2)   Is the department involved in an inter-departmental committee on illegal timber; if so:

(a)   Who are the members;

(b)   Who is the chair or lead agency on illegal timber issues?

(1)   The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is working with other government departments, industry and other relevant stakeholders to develop a policy framework which addresses the election commitments and is consistent with international approaches to combating and preventing illegal logging and associated trade.

(2)   Yes;

(a)   The Attorney-General’s Department, AusAid, Australian Customs Service, Australian Federal Police, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Department of Climate Change, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Department of Finance and Deregulation, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Treasury;

(b)   The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.