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Dan Andrews to blame for APM Mill job losses from inability to facilitate effective transition to plantation timber

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says Premier Dan Andrews must accept 100% of the blame for up to 200 job losse.

By news@gippsland - 15th February 2023 - Back to News

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says Premier Dan Andrews must accept 100% of the blame for up to 200 job losses at Maryvale Mill, after Opal Australia decided to cease manufacturing white pulp and paper. Mr Chester has told Federal Parliament that State Labor's plan to abolish the native timber industry in Victoria was already impacting local jobs.

State Labor's plan to abolish the native timber industry in Victoria ceased on manufacturing white pulp and paper resulted to more than 200 job losses at Maryvale Mill, after Opal Australia

Combined impact

Mr Chester told Parliament, "People and wildlife die in poorly managed forests, and Victorian Premier Dan Andrews's plan to shut down the native timber industry is a plan to kill country towns, to kill wildlife and to kill Australian jobs."

"The combined impact of judicial activism, environmental protests, green lawfare and the abject failure of the Victorian Labor government to support our world-class and environmentally sustainable timber industry is devastating regional communities across Gippsland."

"Every worker who loses their job, every family facing financial stress - and the difficult decision to leave the community they love - has just one man to blame, and that man is Premier Dan Andrews and a Labor Party in Victoria that doesn't care about blue-collar workers anymore." Mr Chester said.

Seeking answers for workers

Mr Chester said he had raised concerns about fibre supply to the mill two years ago in a letter to senior management. "I raised my concerns then because I wanted to seek answers on behalf of hundreds of workers whose jobs are threatened by cuts to timber supply."

"I don't trust the Premier and I didn't believe state government assurances that jobs would be secure in the proposed transition to plantation timber. The state government's policy to abandon all harvesting of native timber is a direct threat to jobs at the paper mill along with all other timber industry jobs in our region.

"These latest job losses were completely avoidable if Melbourne Labor Ministers had taken action to protect the hardwood timber industry from activists and secure the fibre supply over the longer term." Mr Chester said.

Labor's apathy and hostility

Mr Chester said the decision to cease manufacturing white pulp and paper was devastating for workers at the mill and sub-contractors who provide transport and logistical support to the industry.

"The job losses don't end at the mill gate, there will be truck drivers and other subcontractors in our region who will lose incomes as a result of this decision. What is the Premier going to do for those family business owners? What is the Prime Minister going to do about Australia losing the capacity to manufacture white copy paper on our own shores?"

"Despite the apathy and hostility of the Labor Party to local timber workers, I remain committed to working with industry and community leaders to save jobs in this environmentally sustainable and economically critical Gippsland industry." Mr Chester said.

Exposed to fluctuations

Mr Chester added, "If the industry is shut down, we will see less practical management of the fire risk in the bush with lives and livelihoods put at risk, all for the sake of Premier Dan Andrews chasing Greens votes in the city."

"We need to produce more of our own critical supplies as a nation and shutting down the native hardwood timber industry in Victoria is already leaving us exposed to fluctuations in foreign markets, and timber harvested from less environmentally sustainable sources."

"Victoria is home to a world-class, environmentally-sustainable, and highly regulated native hardwood timber industry which is innovative, and has invested in technology to maximise yield and reduce environmental impacts." Mr Chester said.

Pictures from Australian Forests & Timber News Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Darren Chester welcomes St Paul's Anglican Grammar students to parliament house for insight into Australian democracy
  Darren Chester welcomed St Paul's Anglican Grammar students to Parliament House, discussing democracy, civic engagement, and his role as Gippsland's representative while commending their enthusiasm and interest in national issues.
• Darren Chester secures $20,000 to preserve Tambo Valley trenches commemorating Victoria's WWII history
  Darren Chester secured $20,000 funding to preserve the historic Tambo Valley Trenches, enhancing access, safety, and interpretation, while honouring East Gippsland's wartime history and boosting cultural tourism along the Great Alpine Road.
• Tim Bull slammed labor for $13M machete amnesty waste, penalising Gippslanders while failing to target urban crime effectively
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull criticized Labor's $13 million machete amnesty, calling it wasteful, ineffective, and unfairly punishing rural Victorians while targeting areas with no machete problem.
• Free Gippsland workshop with Tony Evans on maximising dairy effluent through composting and sustainability
  Gippsland dairy farmers are invited to a free workshop with Tony Evans on effluent management, exploring composting, fermentation, and biogas to boost sustainability, save money, and reduce reliance on external nutrients.
• East Gippsland Agricultural Sector Advisory Committee welcomes new members to strengthen engagement with farming
  East Gippsland's Agricultural Sector Advisory Committee welcomed new members, enhancing council's connection with farming communities while tackling key priorities like renewable energy, drought resilience, mental health, and pest animal challenges.
• Darren Chester delivers volunteer grant to support Traralgon RSL Bowls Group and boost junior participation
  Darren Chester awarded a $1700 Volunteer Grant to Traralgon RSL Bowls Group, funding equipment to boost junior participation, support volunteers, and strengthen youth development as part of Gippsland's wider $63,000 program.