False promises

An expression of interest released this week by the Victorian Labor Government has shown the plan to transition native timber to plantation by 2030 is a false promise for those in the industry, according to Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood.

The announcement of the Gippsland Plantations Investment Program was meant to give the native timber industry certainty, but instead it has reinforced that jobs will be lost and the industry closed by starving it of supply, Mr Blackwood said.

Mr Blackwood, who is assistant shadow Forsestry Minister said the Minister’s announcement showed a lack of understanding about how long it takes to grow a tree for fibre or sawlog.

‘Minister Symes should be embarrassed to put her name to this program, pretending it will deliver a reliable and secure future for thousands in the native timber industry who stand to lose their jobs and livelihoods,’ Mr Blackwood said.

‘The Minister states that new plantation will create jobs in the supply chain and secure investment in the sector for the longer term. Given these plantations will take until 2050 and beyond to mature I’m not sure who she expects will be around to harvest them.

‘The Victorian Liberal Nationals asked the Minister when this program was announced how much plantation timber would be available for use in 2030 when this transition was due to be completed and she was unable or unwilling to answer.

‘The plantation scheme may produce fibre for Australian Paper within 10 to 12 years and pine timber for house framing within 30 years.

‘It will not replace high-quality native forest timber. It will not be available for the native forest industry to transition to by 2030.

‘By 2030 Victoria will have lost another 20,000 jobs and be importing hardwood timber from countries that do not replant after harvesting.