Another year on, post Covid, waiting, change of Premier still waiting, shuffling portfolios, still waiting, phone calls and emails falling on deaf ears.
The Labor Party has failed once again at arriving at a fair and equitable outcome for hardwood logging contractors who are struggling to make ends meet in country Victorian regions.
One more year on, with the final week of Parliament Sitting on the 28th 29th and 30th November 2023 and still no outcome.
Remember another lie $875m commitment? Where are the funds?
It has left 2000 people in limbo. Their homes, their families and their businesses still waiting compensation.
Mortgages and businesses left in limbo.
Labor has yet again failed Victorian country families. The end of hardwood logging was planned for 2030 and the timeline brought forward with little consultation with all stakeholders now facing significant hardship.
The unplanned timeline was brought about by the Daniel Andrews Labor Government after the failure of previous commitments that were promised.
Expensive machinery sits idle, waiting on some form of rebirth.
Our futures are left in peril from the lack of credible financial assistance.
Payments to insurers for machinery are still in effect, most having to pay over $60,000 per year.
No Insurance, no equipment to fight fires. As the fire season is upon us and the hot weather ramping up next week, who will be take responsibility?
Daniel Andrews’ commitment to rural communities has failed as Jacinta Allan now takes the reigns.
We will not be forgotten or abandoned because they chose to end our livelihood seven years before we were able plan a financial exit strategy.
We are left in debt, financially in peril. Daniel Andrews final words (23rd May 2023) were “Whatever it takes”.
Contractors are being forced to sell equipment to put food on the table. The insurance for machinery, WorkCover, to maintain equipment and wages we have had to pay for the last 12 months has destroyed our business.
Some of the contractors have been coerced into paying their workers redundancy packages with government promising to pay it back. This also has been a lie, the employee’s redundancy now in the hands of the contractor.
The only offer on the table is 30 cents in the dollar. The Liberals and the Nationals are working together regarding a better deal.
Car industries were paid compensation, fisheries paid out, tobacco industries paid out.
And now they have come for the hardwood contractors. No “thank you for your contribution” to date, no “thank you” for the wood homes, the furniture.
Wake up and smell the roses – your industry could be next.
Do not close your eyes and think we are going away. We need to have an inquiry into where the $875m promised to us has gone.
Italia d’Antonio and Perse Hull operate North East Logging in Acheron in North East Victoria.
