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Statement on Carter Holt Harvey

Daniel Andrews must act urgently to reverse the Latrobe Valley’s jobs crisis.

By Portal Admin - 18th May 2017 - Back to News

Carter Holt Harvey announced today it had started consulting with staff about the possible closure of its Morwell sawmill, which employs 160 people in our community and hundreds more down the line.

The Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe said it was distressing to hear of another local business considering closure, after the loss of other significant employers.

"Growing uncertainty on the future of our local industries has led the Latrobe Valley into a jobs crisis," Mr Northe said.

"We all know someone who worked at Hazelwood, or any of the other businesses that have shut down recently – like the Latrobe Valley Hotel, BOC Gases, Johnson Health Tech, or Alternate Dwellings.

"Our community has lost far too many jobs lost this year and a superficial media campaign from the Andrews Government has failed to create any of the jobs Labor promised it would."

Mr Northe said it was galling to hear the Treasurer, in his budget speech just two weeks ago, say 'this Government is creating jobs, but we’re also focused on protecting jobs', after so many jobs had been lost in the Latrobe Valley.

"It is up to Tim Pallas and the Andrews Labor Government to now live by its words and protect our jobs," Mr Northe said.

"Even before the closure of Hazelwood unemployment was up 50 per cent in two years, but Labor continues to put ideology and greens preferences before our local jobs.

"Daniel Andrews promised he would fight for 'every Victorian job'. But these are hollow words when the only job he is fighting for is his own."

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