Labor’s dirty deal with The Greens to pass controversial changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act will decimate the Tasmanian forestry sectors, sending jobs offshore, and deliver the death knell to an industry under siege from inner city environmentalists.
Nationals Senator for New South Wales and Shadow Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Water, and Emergency Management, Ross Cadell, said the deal would result in the premature end of one of Australia’s great industries.
“Australia’s forestry sector has a reputation as one of the world’s best when it comes to modern sustainable practices and environmental stewardship,” Cadell said.
“Despite that, this heavy-handed approach from Labor and The Greens takes no consideration for the industry’s commitment and instead looks focused on offshoring timber supply.
“When you drive industry offshore, you’re not just losing local jobs but you’re deconstructing our sovereign capability.
“The timber industry hasn’t been consulted on these changes, instead they have been told how they should think by a government that can barely manage its own books.
Cadell criticised the Government’s proposed forestry growth fund, describing it as nothing more than an excuse for a photo opportunity.
“$300 million for a forestry growth fund is akin to planting a garden shrub in the forest and expecting it to support the nation’s timber supply.
“It is not a retooling package like the PM has suggested, it is a de-tooling of the entire industry.
“By the time this package delivers any real-world impact, the jobs, the people, and the industry will be a distant memory. Planting trees today won’t save jobs tomorrow.”
Tasmanian Senator Jonno Duniam says that this deal prescribes the death knell of Tasmania’s forestry industry.
“The Prime Minister today outlined a roadmap to the end of Tasmania’s native forestry industry – an industry that employs honest hardworking Tasmanians and supplies hardwood timber goods across the world.”
“Tasmanian workers have been sold out by the Labor Party, in particular Tasmania’s own Federal Forestry Minister Julie Collins, in a deal rushed through without scrutiny.“
“Make no mistake, the Government is simply paying to shut Tasmania’s forestry industry down. It means more timber from overseas and a whittling down of our sovereign capabilities, including our proud forestry industry.”
“We had a deal on the table to protect our workers while maintaining the highest standards in the world for our forestry industry. The Labor Party decided against our sensible measures, instead choosing to decimate Tasmanian jobs.”
Cadell added that Labor saw regional Australia as nothing more than an inconvenience. “They happily look past the contribution the regions make in keeping food on tables, and cash in pockets and just snub them at a moment’s notice,” Cadell said.