The chips were low value exports and processing occurred overseas. The revenue from the felling of publicly-owned timber was far less than the administration costs. The industry only operated under huge subsidies. Dargavel's work is essential reading for anyone interested in the woodchipping debate, Australia's environmental history, or indeed Australian politics. Even a work of this size cannot hope to cover all the issues relating to woodchipping and forestry.
More research is needed.
Dargavel notes that studies of the sociology of timber towns are lacking and that forest clearance for agriculture is not covered in this work. A history of abandoned farmland reverting to forests is needed. Finally, an analysis of why the Labor Party supports woodchipping would be most interesting. Dr Warwick Frost lectures in the School of Economics, La Trobe University.