With polling having opened in Bairnsdale for the State election and the first votes having already being cast, incumbent MP, Tim Bull, says saving the timber industry in East Gippsland is only one reason to vote Nationals.

“We know the timber industry is the backbone of the local economy and this government wants to close it down with no alternate jobs plan - it is just a disgrace.

“We have a native timber industry with some of the strongest oversights in the world that produces a carbon storing building material that grows back. Even the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change supports the use of timber as a building material and reforestation.

“Only the Nationals in Government will maintain the timber industry in this state, but that is not the only reason we need to send Daniel Andrews a clear message.

“After saying he would ‘walk with us’ every step of the fire recovery, he has not been back once,” said Mr Bull.

“On top of this, rebuilds important to our tourism industry at Cape Conran, Buchan Caves and the Thurra River bridge remain incomplete three years on with no foreseeable finish date – the Thurra Bridge has not even been started yet.

“Then, to make matters worse, they throw up a Labor candidate just a week before polling opens and he hides away in Swift’s Creek refusing to commit to anything.

“This makes it impossible to get bipartisan support for important community projects like Lochiel Park and the re-opening of the Buchan pool.

“With the polls starting to tighten, I am hopeful we can get into power, save the timber industry, fast track these dire recovery projects and deliver on the commitments we have made while Labor hides,” he said.

Friday, 18 November 2022