Victorian taxpayers forked out more than $50 million to buy the Heyfield timber mill, it has emerged. Source: The Weekly Times
The State Government paid $50.6 million to buy the Australian Sustainable Hardwood timber mill from the Hermal Group in September.
The Government had remained tight lipped about the value of the purchase, until the figure was revealed in the midyear budget update.
Opposition agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh, who is the state’s Nationals leader, said: “This is what happens when Labor adopts Greens policy.
“The mill wouldn’t have needed a bail out if (Premier) Daniel Andrews hadn’t locked up our productive forests trying to please city Greens voters,” he said.
“Labor has blown $62 million of taxpayers’ money.”
A Government spokesman told The Weekly Times it stood by the investment.
“We make no apologies for taking action to secure the future of the Heyfield mill — saving jobs, protecting the timber industry and supporting the local community,” the spokesman said.
