Stacey Gardiner
The Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) holds grave concerns for the future of Victorian forestry contracting businesses and their employees following suggestions the Victorian Government plans to ban their operations in Victorian native forests over the coming decade. Source: Timberbiz
Recently the Herald Sun reported that state cabinet was considering a plan to phase out logging in native forests by 2019.
“Forestry contracting businesses have already faced uncertainty with the lack of Government decision around harvesting plans for the season already upon us. Now, it appears things are set to get far worse for these hard-working regional businesses; their livelihoods now at stake,” Ms Stacey Gardiner, General Manager of AFCA said.
The uncertainty for this harvest season has already had a negative impact from Government’s inaction with employees having to be put off, resulting in the loss of highly skilled staff and financial challenges for businesses.
“If a ban on native harvesting is forced onto forestry contracting businesses they have no-where else to go, will be faced with serious financial burdens after years of investment and their employees will be out of work,” Ms Gardiner said.
“This will have far reaching and devastating impacts on regional communities.”
In 2017, as part of a Ministerial Forestry Statement, the Victorian Minister for Agriculture, The Hon Jaala Pulford, made a commitment to ‘support the sustainable management of Australia’s native forests, and through this, providing timber resources for industry while protecting high value native forests’.
“This commitment was welcomed however, it appears now that Government wasn’t serious about this and has turned its back on hard working regional businesses” Ms Gardiner said.
“Government must work with us to strike a balance between future resource supply and protecting environment values, not close an industry down that supports regional communities and jobs.”
Not only are forest contracting jobs at stake but businesses such as Australian Paper’s Maryvale paper mill face disruption if not closure. According to the Latrobe Valley Express the plan would mean that 30% of the workforce at Australian Paper would be made redundant and that a $500 million industry transition package is being considered for the area. The mill is the area’s largest employer.
AFCA is calling for long term certainty, for Government to work with industry on a holistic long term plan with a clear resource outlook for both native and plantation. This will allow business to make long term investments, continue our proven history of innovation and ensure we retain a skilled workforce supporting regional Victoria.
