Tania Maxwell MP has opposed legislation that would adversely affect the timber industry in Northern Victoria.
The Forests Legislation Amendment (Compliance and Enforcement) Bill 2019 will increase opportunities for prosecution against VicForests contractors in a move Ms Maxwell said was unnecessary and excessive.
Ms Maxwell said she was perplexed the government had passed a Bill dealing with the timber logging industry before release of a new Code of Practice, which is due before the end of the year.
Ms Maxwell said it was incumbent upon the government to ensure adequate transition models to ensure towns, jobs and the industry can survive post native timer logging.
“The native timber industry is incredibly important to communities in Northern Victoria. The discontinuation of the industry already has people concerned about how they will transition away from what has been a sustainable industry. Unknown regulations and greater fines only increases this uncertainty.”
The new minimum penalty for individual timber workers will increase $21,000, while protesters who enter worksites will be fined a little over $3,600.
Ms Maxwell said the global timber shortage currently felt across Victoria, resulting in market prices skyrocketing, serves as a warning for the government ahead of its phase out of the Victorian native timber industry.
“These decisions have wide-ranging impact, not least for regional communities but will affect the availability of timber for residential and commercial projects across the state.”
Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party was critical of a lack of consultation on the bill, saying the penalties were too harsh and responding to a loophole out of the historic ‘Take Me Home’ failed legal action by DELWP against VicForests.
Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party supports a continuation of sustainable logging practices, balanced against environmental protections.
According to Timber Towns Victoria, there are more than 2,500 people directly employed in the native timber industry along with thousands of indirect jobs, in totally adding $300 million to regional economies.
Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party expressed concern the proposed $120 million phase out package announced by the Victorian government in 2019 would not be enough to support community transition away from native timber.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 7 October 2021.
