Victorian Government axes sustainable industries and rural employment

The Andrews Government has announced the cessation of native forestry at the end of 2023, despite promises in 2019 to phase out native timber logging by 2030.

The native timber industry represents a large segment of the state’s overall timber industry, creating 2,500 jobs and generating more than $770 million in revenue annually.

Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said the Government’s decision is based on politics, not science or fact. 

“Daniel Andrews and Labor are punishing regional Victorian communities to advance a radical green agenda that panders to inner-city Greens voters. 

“So many communities rely on the timber industry for their survival and will be shattered by this decision.

“Without the timber industry’s manpower and heavy machinery, our capacity to fight bushfires will be significantly reduced, putting our forests and regional communities in harm’s way. 

“This decision will kill our timber industry and cause untold damage to our regional communities.”  

The Government will offer free TAFE programs to retrain workers. Mills that remain will be able to access investment support through the Timber Innovation Fund.

The Government now needs to deliver a program of land management works to manage the 1.8 million hectares of public land currently subject to the timber harvesting allocation order.

The Government will establish an advisory panel to consider and make recommendations on which forests to lock up as National Parks.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 25 May 2023.