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Government must show commitment to timber industry

Gippsland East MP, Craig Ingram, has called on the State Government to honor its commitment to East Gippsland residents affected by restructure in the timber industry.

By Craig Ingram - 15th March 2004 - Back to News

Speaking in Parliament last week, Mr Ingram called on the Minister for Environment to assist those who have yet to receive compensation.

"When the sustainable yield reductions were announced, the government gave commitments to the workers, contractors and licensees in the timber industry that they would be compensated for their loss.

"Yet there are still many individuals, businesses, contractors and people in support industries who have lost well in excess of 50 per cent of their business turnover," Mr Ingram told Parliament.

"An example is a business in Bairnsdale called Sum Strait Timber Co., which has been forced to close as a direct result of the OFOF reductions and has not received any compensation."

Mr Ingram said that the government must honour its commitment to those workers and businesses.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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