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Promised Nowa Nowa native nursery with 30 jobs joins list of failed promises by Allen Labor government

Tim Bull, revealed the shelving of the Nowa Nowa native nursery and jobs promise, citing changing market conditions. Labor's forestry transition drew criticism for unmet targets and unfulfilled promises.

By news@gippsland - 27th November 2023 - Back to News

The new native nursery and 30 jobs promised for Nowa Nowa in 2020, then to be moved to Bairnsdale, will now not proceed at all, it has been revealed under questioning by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull. "The nursery was originally committed to Nowa Nowa by current Labor Upper House MP, Harriet Shing, over three years ago, but that was withdrawn, and the government then stated it would relocate the project and its 30 jobs to Bairnsdale," said Mr Bull.

In March, Tim Bull queried the Minister about the nursery's location, construction progress, and the employment commitment for 30 people, which turned out to be another broken promise from the Labor government

Delayed, abandoned plans

With nothing having been said since, Mr Bull asked the Minister in March:

• What is the exact location of the nursery?
• Has construction commenced and what is the approximate date for its opening?
• Does the government still stand by the claim that it will provide full time employment for 30 people?

"Finally, eight months later, I received a response where it said, changed market conditions since the project's inception were found to have affected the commercial viability of proceeding. VicForests elected not to award a tender', Mr Bull said.

Unkept Labor pledges

Mr Bull also said, "Then as if to rub salt into the wound, the response then goes on to say, 'the Allan Labor government is committed to the long-term sustainability of forestry in Gippsland, including through supporting the industry's transition to wholly plantation-based supply via the flagship Gippsland Plantations Investment Program, and VicForests' Farm Forestry Program'. Apart from closing down the native timber industry on January 1, parliamentary hearings this week revealed Labor's "timber transition" into plantation is a sham."

"Back in 2017 it allocated $110 million to plant 30 million trees needed for plantation to meet demand, but last week it was revealed it has planted only 4,000 trees in the six years since that announcement. That's 4,000 trees. At this rate per annum, they'll hit their target in 7,500 years."

"Typical Labor, making promises they do not deliver - airport rail, Geelong fast rail, electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the Latrobe Valley and the Commonwealth Games to name a few that have all been scrapped," said Mr Bull.

Pictures from Tim Bull MP website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com