State Labor says a Tasmanian first timber policy needs to be established to prevent Tasmanian-grown logs travelling across the Bass Strait to be milled in Victoria. Source: The Examiner
The Tasmanian forestry industry has expressed alarm over past months after the Victorian Government announced a snap decision to end native forestry logging in the state by the end of the year.
This has led to businesses and workers in Victoria’s timber industry seeking native timber resource from other states, like Tasmania.
On a visit to Neville Smith Forestry Products in Mowbray on Monday, Labor leader Rebecca White said the party would work with the crossbenchers to end the uncertainty that existed for sawmillers and forestry workers over the allocation of the state’s finite native timber resource.
“We support Tasmanian businesses being able to access a resource that’s been planted for Tasmanian businesses using taxpayer money,” she said.
Labor’s economic development spokesman Dean Winter said the party held grave concerns over the viability of Tasmanian sawmilling businesses.
“We’re saying to the Tasmanian Government, you need to put in place in Tasmania first policy and the first thing that they could do is make sure that the local benefits test that applies for government contracts should also apply to Sustainable Timber Tasmania,” he said.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said contracts between Tasmanian sawmills and Sustainable Timber Tasmania were secure until 2027.
He said the government was engaging with sawmillers and forestry workers on how best to handle the fallout from the Victorian Government’s decision.
“We will always be the number one supporter of our sawmills and our forest industry,” Mr Rockliff said.
Resources Minister Felix Ellis said The Rockliff government was working with the industry.
“While Labor throw rocks from the sidelines, our government is working closely with industry,” he said.
