The forestry industry has congratulated the Victorian Liberal Nationals Opposition for showing its support for the industry in Victoria and trying to ensure it has a future. Source: Timberbiz
Earlier this week the member for East Gippsland Melina Bath introduced a motion to State Parliament to establish an inquiry into the Government’s plan to end native forest harvesting by 2030.
Its recommendations to the Legislative Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee include inquiring into where Victoria’s timber will be sourced following the implementation of the plan; how it will impact the availability of machinery and infrastructure for fire‑fighting and the impact on forestry workers and regional economies.
The inquiry would report back by June 2021.
Ms Bath said timber workers, businesses and communities felt let down by the lack of detail from the Andrews Government on its decision to ban the native timber industry by 2030.
She said the State Government had refused to say how much plantation timber would be available for harvest by 2030 or how it planned to retain the unique knowledge of Victoria’s high country bush landscapes and access to heavy machinery, which is invaluable during times of catastrophic bushfire.
The motion will be debated in coming weeks.
The Chief Executive of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) Tim Johnston said the questions about the future supply of Victoria’s timber must be answered.
“We’ve asked the Andrews government repeatedly to explain how it will meet future demand, but it’s refusing to give us an answer, so hopefully an inquiry has better luck,” he said.
“We’d also encourage all Victorian crossbench MPs to support the motion as they too will want answers to the questions being posed.”
The General Manager of the Australian Forest Contractors Association Stacey Gardiner said forest contractors and their workers have a cloud over their future.
“Many already face an uncertain future with contracts terminated and lawsuits causing closures,” she said.
“If, as the Premier says, plantations will replace native forests, then he should be able to show us how that can be achieved, because right now we can’t see it happening in time.”
The Chief Executive of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Ross Hampton has commended Victoria’s Opposition for putting an inquiry on the table.
“This motion is asking common sense questions about Victoria’s future forestry needs,” Mr Hampton said.
“We know it’s already operating sustainably, providing jobs and supporting regional communities across regional Victoria. But that’s a message the Andrews’ Government doesn’t seem to want to listen to, and it also isn’t prepared to explain how its plan will work. This Parliamentary Inquiry is asking those questions, and we commend the Opposition for calling for it,” he said.
