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Government must support Australian PaperMember for Morwell Russell Northe told Parliament today Banyule Council’s decision to ban the purchase of paper manufactured at Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill has put local jobs at risk. By Portal Admin - 25th November 2016 - Back to News In Parliament, Mr Northe raised the importance of Government departments and agencies buying local manufactured paper.
"The announcement from Banyule Council raises greater concerns for people in Latrobe Valley after the recent announcement of the closure of Hazelwood," Mr Northe said.
"This move puts 1000 of Australian Paper’s direct and indirect jobs at risk and puts more pressure on employers in the Latrobe Valley.
"There is already a lot of uncertainty in the Latrobe Valley with Hazelwood’s closure and the loss of at least 750 jobs."
Mr Northe said Australian Paper is an important key to our local economy and it’s frustrating that governments aren’t purchasing paper produced there.
"State Government department and agencies need to better support Australian Paper by purchasing locally made copy paper," Mr Northe said.
"The Liberal-Nationals in Government provided $3 million in funding towards the construction of the $90 million de-inking plant at Maryvale which produces 100 per cent recycled copy paper."
Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath said jobs are already hard to come by in Latrobe City and the Andrews Labor Government must provide some certainty for Latrobe City residents and workers at Australian Paper and Hazelwood.
"Jobs have dried up in the Latrobe Valley since Daniel Andrews was elected and now he has failed to save the jobs of nearly 1000 workers at the Hazelwood power station," Ms Bath said.
"Since December 2014, unemployment has skyrocketed rising 50 per cent in Latrobe City and nearly 10,000 people have lost full-time work in the Latrobe-Gippsland region.
"The Latrobe Valley is worse off under Daniel Andrews. It is harder to get a job and harder to run a business."
Media contact: 5133 9088
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com
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