The glaring omission in the Andrews Government’s confirmation of the Heyfield mill sale is a promise that all 250 jobs will be saved.

Labor MP Harriet Shing promised in March the mill would “not lose jobs overall” if the Government became a buyer of last resort, but Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford recently said “less timber for the mill does mean that there will need to be some change”.

Today’s announcement details nothing of what that change might mean for the 250 people employed at the mill and for the Heyfield community.

Up to 20 jobs have already been lost at the green mill when one shift was cut in August.

The Andrews Labor Government must urgently guarantee there will be no further job losses at the Heyfield mill.

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh:

Daniel Andrews’ decision to refuse timber supply to the Heyfield mill left the local community in limbo for nearly a year.

Labor is desperate to paint this deal as a win for the community to cover up the fact jobs have already been lost at the mill and that they have not guaranteed there won’t be further losses to come.

Daniel Andrews promised he would fight for every job, but it seems jobs in country Victoria just don’t make the cut.

Comments attributable to Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull:

Each and every one of these mill jobs are vital to the Heyfield community. These jobs wouldn’t have needed saving if Labor hadn’t refused to guarantee a viable timber supply. Daniel Andrews is so desperate to secure Greens preferences and the seats of his inner-city MPs that he is willing to sacrifice those in our East Gippsland communities.

Friday, September 15, 2017