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Tim Bull criticised state government for failing to support timber businesses it promised to help during industry shutdown

Gippsland East MP Tim Bull has slammed the state government for failing to support timber businesses it promised to help, including firewood sellers, amid the native timber industry shutdown.

By news@gippsland - 31st March 2025 - Back to News

The state government has been blasted for not supporting the businesses it promised to assist in shutting down the native timber industry. Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the state government was applying criteria that stopped it assisting the very businesses it promised to help.

Tim Bull criticised the state government for not assisting businesses like firewood sellers, despite promises made by Minister Gayle Tierney in 2023

Forestry support discrepancies

Mr Bull said, "On August 23, 2023, Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney put out a media release stating the Andrews Labor government would support businesses that were impacted but not licensed to VicForests and the media release cited firewood sellers, guitar makers and seed collectors as examples. But 18 months later and firewood sellers, Tim and Andea Knight - the very type of business that was stated would be supported - are not."

"They are now told the forestry transition support packages for businesses are being directed towards those businesses with a contractual relationship with VicForests, or businesses that offered specialised services to either VicForests or sawmills," he said.

Clarifying support exclusions

Mr Bull also said, "However, the original statement from Minister Tierney said businesses would be supported that were not licensed to VicForests. The Knights have also been told they are classified as 'retailers' and can therefore source their product from elsewhere or sell alternative products. This raises three points:

• Firstly, they were purchasing directly off VicForests, so how are they not eligible?
• Secondly, they simply cannot purchase firewood elsewhere at an affordable level with the timber industry having closed
• Thirdly, regardless of the above, there is no mention of retailers being excluded in the original announcement or media release

Mr Bull pointed out a further anomaly. "Trucking company, Pelz Haulage, had a large part of its business servicing mills, among other things removing the sawdust. The correspondence to the Knights says businesses that offered specialised services to sawmills (like Pelz Haulage) will be covered."

Timber transition concerns

Mr Bull added, "But there is no explanation as to why Pelz Haulage is not being compensated. This is all happening while we have timber transition money being spent on rubbish like (quoted from the latest Labor media release):

• Upskilling community members to help identify future economic opportunities
• Identifying initiatives by local Innovation Working Groups through Local Development Strategies

"Spare me! This will amount to nothing and is money that should be going to those whose livelihoods have been taken away or impacted. We now have a new Minister in Ros Spence, who has in the past shown a better understanding and more rational approach, and I have asked her to intervene and assist these businesses as her predecessor promised," said Mr Bull.

Pictures from Paynesville Neighbourhood Centre Facebook page.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com