Melbourne
Observer
FREE COPY INSIDE
MITCHELL SHIRE EDITION
BEVERIDGE • BROADFORD • CLONBINANE • DONNYBROOK • HEATHCOTE JUNCTION • KILMORE • PUCKAPUNYAL • SEYMOUR • TALLAROOK • TRAWOOL • WALLAN • WANDONG Not associated with any other publication in this area.
The
Local Paper
FREE
Phone: 5797 2656 or 1800 231 311. www.LocalPaper.com.au
H-G17
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024
Star Tree Services QUALIFIED ARBORISTS • Tree Removal • Tree Surgery & Pruning • Consultations & Reports • Elm Leaf Beetle Control • Mulch & Firewood Sales
5783 3170 Free Quotes. Full Insurance Cover www.treeservices.com.au mail@treeservices.com.au
RO ROYY AL TREE SERVICES Free Quotes • TTree ree Removals • Pruning • Stump-Grinding • Fully Insured • Mulch for sale Email: wes@royaltreeser vices.com.au www.royaltreeservices.com.au
FOR A FREE QUOTE CALL
WES: 0416 695 138
LANDSCAPING • Instant Turf Installation • Garden Beds Flat or Raised • Irrigation • Rataining Walls • Pergola’s • Decking
CONCRETING • Plain-ColouredTextured-Pattern • Exposed Aggregate • Driveways • Footpaths • Shed Slabs • Stairs • Slabs for Pergola’s/Afresco’s • Carport Slabs • Footings
0411 462 685
Contact: Arthur Email: arthur@pro-xconcretelandscaping.com Web: www.pro-xconcretelandscaping.com
FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF TIMBER INDUSTRY ■ Northern Victoria MLC Wendy Lovell told State Parliament that the Allan Labor Government had delivered the final nail in the coffin of the native timber industry. “I rise to speak on the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Repeal Bill 2024. This bill before the house repeals the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 and puts the final nail in the coffin of the commercial native forest timber harvesting industry in Victoria,” Ms Lovell told the Legislative Council. “ It abolishes the VicForests state enterprise, and it transfers any remaining property rights and liabilities of VicForests to the Crown. “I will be opposing this bill because I opposed the shutting down of the Victorian native timber industry. “Census data from 2021 showed that over 17,000 Victorians were employed directly or indirectly in forestry, logging, timber selling or processing. “The consequences of Labor’s decision to ban native timber harvesting have decimated the businesses and industries that employed those 17,000 Victorians. “The native timber shutdown will affect logging contractors, haulers and vehicle mechanics, mill workers, machine operators and repairers, fuel providers, seed collectors, timber sellers and processors, as well as paper and wood manufacturers. “Many workers in these industries will suffer, as well as their families. Entire communities that depend economically on the timber industry will be hurt by this callous decision, driven not by data or evidence but by the ideological obsessions of the Labor Party. “My sympathy goes to those workers and their families. My appreciation goes out to them too. I want to thank them for their years of service in an industry that has been central to the economy of Victoria for over 150 years. “Victorian native timber literally built our cities, towns and homes, but that has all ended now, because Labor has decided to end the native timber industry in this state, and in the most cruel way. “You would think that the Labor Party, the party that claims to stand for workers, would have done more for them, but instead this Labor government has betrayed them. “Forestry workers do not just log trees. They are involved in forestry management. They clear fire tracks and build firebreaks with their equipment, which will now lie idle. “Unfortunately this equipment will not be available next time we have a serious bushfire in our state. “In the past they have also joined in fighting fires when necessary and have a lifetime’s worth of knowledge about the forest, which will now be lost when they leave the industry. “This loss of knowledge, manpower and equipment will seriously reduce our state’s ca-
● Wendy Lovell MLC pacity to prevent or manage future bushfire threats. It was only very recently, in 2019, that the government told everyone, ‘We’re winding down native timber logging in 2030.’ “They gave everyone notice of the closure in 11 years time, and on the basis of that announcement people made business decisions; some of them bought new equipment to see them through the final decade of operation. “Then without warning this government made the snap decision to end it all six years early, totally betraying all of those people. “Labor promised help for people impacted by that decision. They made big announcements and they promised transition payments, but when the time came to pay up they walked away from workers. “Harvesting ended at the start of this year, but for many the promised transition payments have not come through. “Workers have been waiting and waiting without getting anything or they have been told they are not eligible for payment. Contractors who have lost their income are now struggling to pay off specialised vehicles and equipment that they can no longer use and cannot sell.”