A petition with 2,691 signatories requesting the Premier, Daniel Andrews, acts immediately to secure the jobs of hundreds of East Gippsland timber workers, was tabled in State Parliament today by Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull.
Mr Bull also used the grievance debate in Parliament to push the Premier to secure the jobs of the Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) employees at Heyfield.
“I told the House that in government the Nationals in Coalition had a system to ensure security of supply to protect these jobs and that security of supply has been eroded in the past two years by poor decision-making that needs to be reversed – that is the fact of the matter.
“The Forest Industry Taskforce this Minister appointed on coming to government has been a complete shambles and a waste of time and the uncertainty it has created has been a large part of where we are today.
“Despite being in government just four of the past 18 years the Nationals and Coalition have strongly supported the timber industry and this has been recognised by those in the sector. We will continue to fight for these jobs.”
Mr Bull said the petition had attracted enormous support, predominantly from Heyfield and surrounds. He also thanked those who had done considerable leg work.
“The effort from the community to have this many signatures in just a couple of weeks is amazing. It has harnessed support and the number (2,961) certainly raised a few eyebrows in the chamber.
Mr Bull also used today to tell the Parliament this matter can be solved with political will.
“Two years ago an agreement was made on the supply of 155,000 cubic metres (m3) over 10 years, with the option of another 10, but now the offer is just 80,000 m3.
“When questioned on where the missing 70,000 m3 has gone, VicForests concedes it is largely because it has been placed into reserve, primarily for leadbeater possum habitat, without being replaced.
“The timber has not disappeared and it is incorrect to say it is not there. It was there two years ago and is there now. If the Government wishes to solve this it can, it just needs to put the jobs of these families first,” Mr Bull said.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
