Private Forests Act 1994

The functions of the Authority are as follows:to advise the Minister on all matters relating to private forestry; to provide assistance and advice on forest establishment and management for commercial purposes and on the use of trees for sustainable land management; to process applications for private timber reserves under the Forest Practices Act 1985 pursuant to a delegation from the Forest Practices Authority under that Act; to promote opportunities for more competitive markets for private forest owners; to advise, assist and facilitate the private forest sector in the development of relevant infrastructure; to maintain and update an inventory of private forests and prepare five-yearly reviews of private forests; to provide advice and assistance to the Forest Practices Authority for implementation of the Forest Practices Act 1985 on private forest lands; to provide co-ordinated input on behalf of private forest growers on land use issues; to promote private forestry research and education; to examine matters relating to the conservation of flora, fauna, land forms, cultural heritage and care of the environment on private forest lands; to encourage whole-farm planning on private land including strategic planning and appropriate technical and policy development; to develop plans to deliver funding for private forestry programmes from private forest owners; to contribute to state and national reporting on private forest matters; to advocate on behalf of private forest owners in the formulation and review of state and national forest-related policies, programmes and legislation; to implement and manage priority projects on behalf of private forest owners; to perform such other functions as are imposed on it by this or any other Act.

The costs and expenses incurred by the Authority in performing the functions specified in paragraphs (a), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k) of subsection (1) are to be paid out of money provided by Parliament for the purpose.

Notwithstanding subsection (2), any money not provided by Parliament which is at the Authority's disposal may be applied towards the payment of any of the costs and expenses referred to in that subsection.