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Labor’s Green Coalition Partners Move to Cut Timber Supply to Australian Paper

Bill proposal to terminate the Act that provides supply of timber to Australian Paper gets slammed.

By Portal Admin - 16th September 2018 - Back to News

The Nationals Candidate for Morwell Sheridan Bond has slammed a move by the Greens to starve the Latrobe Valley’s Australian Paper mill at Maryvale of timber supply.

State Parliament’s Upper House yesterday debated a private members Bill, proposed by the Greens, to terminate the Act that provides for a supply of timber to Australian Paper, the Latrobe Valley’s largest employer.

Ms Bond said the stunt was another attack on the people, jobs and industry of the Latrobe Valley. "The Greens’ move to cut timber supply to AP’s Maryvale mill is their latest attempt to destroy a key industry that supports jobs and investment in the Latrobe Valley," Ms Bond said.

"AP is our largest employer, providing vital jobs that give nearly 1000 people and their families a reason to become part of, and stay in, our fantastic community.

"It’s not just direct jobs, there’s also a significant benefit the AP mill provides our entire timber industry, supporting thousands of jobs in the Valley."

Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath said Labor had taken the path of least resistance, putting little effort into standing up to their Greens coalition partners.

"This Bill was a direct attempt to starve our largest employer in the Valley of timber supply, destroying hundreds of local jobs," Ms Bath said.

"When asked to respond Labor put up a backbench city MP, who was clearly out of their depth on the issue. In the contribution, they ominously flagged Labor would have more to say on forestry and a transition plan in coming weeks."

Ms Bond said The Nationals were focused on protecting local timber jobs in the Latrobe Valley. "I believe our timber workers in the Latrobe Valley deserve a better deal than they’re getting from the Andrews Labor Government," Ms Bond said.

"We’ve been in constant limbo for four years under Daniel Andrews, who has shown time and time again he’ll fight to keep his own job by keeping his friends at the Greens happy – even if it means destroying regional industries that are the engine room of our community."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

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