Senator Raff Ciccone
A federal Labor senator has slammed Daniel Andrews’ decision to end native timber logging, saying it will hurt timber communities. Source: Herald Sun
In a party-on-party attack, Victorian Senator Raff Ciccone has spoken out about the sudden move to bring forward the 2030 ban to next year without consultation saying there was a lot of frustration.
Senator Ciccone said the union and industry had been working with the government on a package that would support workers in several years’ time until the budget announcement pulled it from underneath them.
“I’m disappointed by the Vic Gov’s sudden decision to end the native timber industry as it will have a negative effect on workers and regional communities,” Senator Ciccone wrote on Twitter.
“Australia needs timber products, and we need to support local forestry jobs.”
Asked if more needed to be done to support the workers, he said: “I don’t think people want a package, they want their jobs.”
“They (the state government) already said 2030, why now?
“Where are you going to get your timber for your furniture, for your floorboards, for your decking and other parts of the building.”
He also raised concerns about the environmental impacts of the imported timber, warning Australia could not verify its sustainability.
Victoria imported more than $150m worth of timber last year.
