Several of the South East’s politicians have criticised the State Government as it moves to end the native timber industry in the latest budget.
Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath said the Andrews Government abandonment of timber workers is shameful.
“Labor has delivered the final nail in the coffin for Victoria’s native timber industry – this decision will destroy communities and the livelihoods that forestry underpins,“ she said.
“Today is a grim day for timber workers and their families who have been callously ignored – the State Government has flatly refused to sit at the table and negotiate.
“Daniel Andrews is punishing regional Victorian communities for his government’s failure to control radical green agenda.“
The State Government on Tuesday announced the end of logging will be pushed forward to occur by December 2023, previous plans by the State Government were to end the industry by 2030.
This comes as Victoria’s timber and logging industry has been stalled over recent years as the state-funded agency VicForests has been occupied in court battles over it’s practice.
In November 2022, the Supreme Court of Victoria found VicForests had failed to protect threatened species, specifically the endangered Greater Gliders.,
This debilitated the industry further as the agency was mandated to change reorient its conduct in Victoria’s woodlands.
In a media release from the State Government said the uncertainty and disruption in the industry “simply cannot continue.“
As the industry comes to a quick end, the State Government has committed $200m in the 2023-24 budget to assist timber workers to transition.
“The Government’s Free TAFE program will retrain workers, helping them get jobs in growing regional industries like construction, agriculture, transport, and manufacturing through TAFE Gippsland and other key TAFE campuses in timber communities,“ the release explained.
“This will be supported by up to $8,000 in retraining vouchers for courses inside and outside the TAFE Network.“
The industry support payments which were already set will continue as they despite the new end date.
Labor Member for Eastern Victoria and Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing said the State Government was stepping in for timber workers.
“We will support workers, their families and their businesses as we navigate through this earlier exit from the industry and help people and communities to plan for the future.”
Liberal Member for Eastern Victoria Renee Heath on Tuesday posted on facebook and said “it is a very sad day for our region.“
“This Labor Government is pushing ahead to end yet another industry in the Eastern Victoria Region.
“This is outrageous! When you shut down an industry, you shut down the communities that rely on it.“
Liberal Member for Narracan also took to facebook to share his thoughts.
“The original 2030 closure date was already a farce, now the Andrews Labor Government is throwing its hands in the air and just walking away from communities, workers and families,“ he said.
“They were promised transition, and delivered nothing.“
Chris Schuringa, Campaign Coordinator for Victorian Forest Alliance, one of the main conservation campaign groups in the battle over the native timber industry is proud of the State Government’s decision and looks for more to be done.
“There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure these forests are permanently protected from all kinds of destructive practices – not just conventional logging,“ he said.
“The next priority is to focus on supporting workers through a just transition and restoring Victoria’s native forests, which will provide real, lasting, sustainable employment for regional communities.”
