The Minister for Energy and Resources, Bryan Green, today announced a voluntary sawlog contract buyback program as the next step in negotiating an outcome under the Tasmanian Forests Agreement (TFA).

Mr Green said the Reference Group of Signatories had requested the program be initiated as part of the Interim Agreement to assist them in reaching a final resolution.

"This is part of the process to secure the long term future of the industry.

"The program will be advertised this weekend and the information gained will be considered by the Signatories alongside resource modelling to give them a better understanding of the opportunities to achieve an agreed outcome," Mr Green said.

"The program will enable sawmillers holding contracts for high-quality sawlog with Forestry Tasmania to voluntarily surrender all or part of their minimum contracted volume.

"Priority will be given to buying back sawlog contracts in regions where supply would be most challenging under negotiated conservation scenarios."

"We will also be announcing shortly a second program which is intended to provide assistance to those smaller regional sawmillers who are not eligible for this program but who want to exit the industry."

The Federal Government has made available $15 million in funding to undertake both programs.

"To date the Australian and Tasmanian Governments have delivered more than $100 million in assistance and support to forest contractors, workers and regional communities, and this program will continue to provide this vital support to the industry."

The Tasmanian Government will establish a negotiating team to review the final proposals and undertake negotiations.

The closing date for proposals from eligible sawmillers is Friday 28 September and further information is available at: www.forestsagreement.tas.gov.au