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Legislative Assembly
 
MORWELL ELECTORATE

12 November 2019
Constituency questions
Russell Northe  (IND)

 


Mr NORTHE (Morwell) (13:08:20): (1418) My constituency question is to the Premier. Premier, what is the latest information in relation to the state government’s announcement that logging of native timber in Victoria will cease by 2030? And I subsequently ask on behalf of my constituents: what impact will this have upon businesses, workers and their families who work directly and indirectly in the timber industry right now? Claims that this decision provides certainty to timber workers is absolutely false. Many local workers have made contact with me, extremely upset and nervous about what the future holds for them, particularly given Carter Holt Harvey closed its Morwell sawmill because of a shortage of timber supply recently. It is difficult to fathom the rationale of such a policy because: in reality, timber will need to be imported from other jurisdictions without the same forestry standards we have here in Victoria; there will be no environmental or sustainability improvements; prices of timber-related products will increase; and jobs in Victoria will be lost in a whole range of areas. How on earth this is supposedly a good outcome is beyond me. So, Premier, can you please advise: which businesses in my electorate will be negatively impacted by this decision and what jobs will be lost due to this decision?