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Danny O'Brien questions Dan Andrews about advancing the timber industry end date at Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearings

Andrews Labor government decision to end the native timber industry lacks guarantees of new employment opportunities, disappointing timber towns and breaking promises.

By news@gippsland - 5th June 2023 - Back to News

Premier Daniel Andrews has admitted his plan to bring forward the end of the native timber industry by January 2024 provides no guarantees of new employment opportunities in timber towns. During Friday's Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearings, The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien challenged Premier Andrews on the decision to bring the end of native timber industry forward to the end of the year.

Premier Andrews admits lack of employment guarantees in ending the timber industry, facing criticism for broken promises and failure to support affected timber towns and workers

Political maneuvering

Mr O'Brien said the decision to end the industry was a political one that could have been overcome if the government wanted to. "I have been calling on the Andrews Labor government for years to step in and make the legislative changes to the Code of Practice for Timber Production, in the same fashion that the NSW government has, to mitigate the legal challenges that have shut down the industry."

"While it is clear to most that timber communities are paying the price of Labor's capitulation to inner city green groups, the Premier is now citing legal advice from the Solicitor General and senior legal counsel to justify his decision. He says that advice indicates legislating to protect the industry is not possible."

"But when pressed to release that advice, he refuses to do so. Apparently we need to 'trust' a government that has demonstrated time and again that when it comes to Gippsland jobs and timber, it can't be trusted," Mr O'Brien said.

Broken promises impact

Mr O'Brien challenged the Premier with a list of broken promises. "From the broken promise of 500 jobs for the Latrobe Valley at SEA Electric, the failed commitment to establish a new plantation nursery at Nowa Nowa and the utter failure to plant a single new plantation since a 2017 $110 million budget commitment, the Andrews Labor government has time and time again proved that they don't follow through."

"The Premier himself guaranteed the job security of Opal's paper mill in Maryvale until 2050 but there have been 130 job redundancies so far this year - with more to come," he said.

Unfulfilled promises

Mr O'Brien asked the Premier what alternative industry has or will be established in a timber town since the 2019 announcement that the Andrews Labor government intended to "transition" the native timber industry.

"The Premier responded that he never promised the alternative jobs would be located in timber towns. That's exactly the point - where are these people who lose their jobs supposed to go? And what happens to the communities left behind? The Premier says he will stand by affected workers and towns, but his record says the opposite," he said.

Pictures from Timber Towns Victoria Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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  Shadow Minister Darren Chester has condemned Labor's legislation imposing a 20-year limit on veterans' medal reviews, arguing it undermines the Tribunal's independence and disenfranchises veterans and families seeking fair recognition.
• Cr Gilligan nominated for Mary Rogers Award, for protecting South Gippsland’s coastline and advancing storm surge solutions
  Councillor Gilligan was nominated for the Mary Rogers Award, recognising her leadership in protecting South Gippsland’s coastline and securing $80,000 to explore innovative Venus Bay saltmarsh storm surge solutions.
• Melina Bath condemns Labor for blocking protest bill and failing to protect police, businesses, and public safety
  Labor, backed by the Greens and minor parties, blocked Nationals and Liberals legislation to ban protest face coverings, which Melina Bath said betrayed police, small businesses, and public safety across Victoria.
• 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.
• Construction begins on Western Park Oval 2 Pavilion, including new curator shed and upgraded female-friendly facilities
  Construction has started on Western Park Oval 2 Pavilion, beginning with a new curator shed, supporting local sports growth, female-friendly facilities, and community recreation, funded by Council and a government grant.
• Labor provides rebates and programs to help regional households switch from costly gas to cheaper electric appliances
  The Allan Labor government is supporting 1,183 regional households impacted by Solstice's gas network closure with rebates, discounts, and programs to help them transition to cheaper, energy-efficient electric appliances.
• Martin Cameron slams Labor’s delayed Loy Yang rehabilitation plan, calling it tone-deaf and ignoring immediate Latrobe Valley job losses
  Morwell MP Martin Cameron criticises Labor’s delayed Loy Yang rehabilitation plan, calling it tone-deaf, failing to provide immediate jobs or industry support for the Latrobe Valley amid coal power closures.
• Darren Chester warns Labor gun law changes unfairly target regions, distract from government extremism failures
  Gippsland MP Darren Chester says Labor’s firearm law changes unfairly punish regional Australians, distract from failures tackling anti-Semitism and extremism, and won’t prevent terrorism like the Bondi attack tragedy violence.
• Peri Urban Councils urge state government to invest in infrastructure and support housing growth across regions
  Peri Urban Councils Victoria is urging government investment in infrastructure after a new report recommended 40% of new homes be built in regional Australia, highlighting housing demand, high costs, and infrastructure pressures.