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Melina Bath queries Treasurer about compensation for service-based businesses affected by the timber industry shutdown

Melina Bath directs her question to the Treasurer regarding Trevor Hodge's plea for compensation eligibility for service-based enterprises affected by the timber industry closure.

By news@gippsland - 12th February 2024 - Back to News

Melina Bath's question is to the Treasurer. Based in Latrobe Valley, Trevor Hodge is the director of Hodge Forestry Services and, due to Labor's shutdown of the timber industry, has lost his sole source of income - field and systems third-party OH&S audit contracts. Having been in the industry for 20 years and being a valuable contributor to this industry, he does not qualify for any of the government's so-called compensation scheme payouts.

The government's premature end to timber harvesting has harmed industry workers and their communities, concerns are being raised on compensation to service-based firms

Forestry industry concerns

Trevor wrote to me stating, "As you know the government's decision to end native timber harvesting from the state's forests six years ahead of schedule has inflicted untold damage on the people involved in this industry, their families and their communities."

Contracting businesses like ours are suffering particularly severely. There are a number of VicForests contractors who will not be able to continue on. Will the Treasurer extend forestry compensation packages to service-based industries like Hodge Forestry Services?

Pictures from Hodge Forestry Services Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com