Nationals candidate for Wagga Wagga Andrianna Benjiman, AFPA chair Diana Gibbs, Liberal Candidate for Wagga Wagga Julia Ham, the Member Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr, and AFPA NSW CEO Victor Violante at the Tumut meeting
The 2023 NSW election is an opportunity to support one of the Wagga Wagga electorate’s largest industries, forestry and fibre processing – Australian Forest Contractors Association general manager Carlie Porteous has told candidates. Source: Timberbiz
Speaking at a Politics in the Pub meeting at the Royal Hotel in Tumut Ms Porteous said the election provided an opportunity to support the health of NSW native forests by keeping it actively managed for high value wood products.
“Any further locking up of state forests for the purpose of national parks will be detrimental to the long-term forest health and potentially cause further fire risk,” she said.
The meeting was attended by around 40 people including the Nationals candidate for Wagga Wagga Andrianna Benjiman, the Liberal Candidate for Wagga Wagga Julia Ham, and the sitting Member Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr.
Ms Porteous told the meeting that the election also provided an opportunity to support workers safety through the implementation of legislation to deter illegal trespassers.
“Time and time again in NSW foresters and contractors are faced with risks to their physical safety and mental health, and we need permanent change to deter these trespassers from entering these worksites,” she said.
“It’s an opportunity to grow the sectors human resources by implementing the NSW Forestry Skills Rebate Mechanism. The Mechanism will grow the industries capacity as well as developing skills for disengaged NSW residents.
It’s also an opportunity to supercharge the states emissions reduction through the implementation of a regional battery trial. Forestry has a great carbon story, but it can be even better through the transitioning of the transport fleet to a low emissions future.
“But most importantly, it’s an opportunity to implement real support to grow this critical resource. The industry faces a serious shortage of timber in the coming years, and we need more trees in the ground.”
Ms Porteous said AFCA would love to see commitments from the candidates to support the great industry that supports the Wagga Wagga electorate.
