We are being treated like fools
6 April 2022
We are being treated like fools
The confirmation that Premier Daniel Andrews went to the last election and did not disclose the state government’s intention to shut down the native timber sector is blatantly misleading, according to Timber Towns Victoria chair Karen Stephens.
She said the Weekly Time’s article, “Premier’s timber secret 6/4/22, proved the Premier had signed off on a timber phase out before going public, treating the forestry sector “like fools”.
“Furthermore, offering $100 prepaid EFTPOS cards to attend forums to gauge the view of focus groups on native timber harvesting, specifically across the marginal seats is absolutely disgusting and shows this government for what it truly is,” Mrs Stephens said.
“The Victorian government knows the devasting flow-on impacts in small regional communities where there are limited alternative employment opportunities, low chance of re-skilling, and when 35% of log sawmilling are sole income earner for their household.”
Victoria has the capacity to maintain a financially viable and sustainable native timber industry supporting thousands of workers, their families and businesses.
Victoria has 7.64 million hectares of native forest with 94% of the native forests unavailable for harvesting. Only 3,000 hectares are harvested each year – that equates to just 0.04% of 7,645,000 hectares = 4 trees in 10,000 with every tree harvested regrown by law.
All Victoria Old Growth Forest cannot be harvested for timber products and are protected by law.
“The native timber industry is critical in the fight against climate change with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report stating that sustainable forest management can increase and maintain forest carbon sinks through harvest, transfer of carbon to wood products and their use to store carbon and substitute emissions-intensive construction material,” Mrs Stephens said.
“The native timber industry thus provides a climate solution. The industry improves forest health by regenerating forest areas badly damaged or killed by high-intensity bushfires.
“SO WHY WOULD THE CURRENT VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BE SO INTENT ON CLOSING DOWN THIS INDUSTRY ??”
Karen Stephens
TTV President 0488 900 6545
About Timber Towns Victoria
Timber Towns Victoria is the peak local government body for Victoria on forestry policy. It represents 10 Victorian Local Government areas with forestry industries on public or private land. In representing these local councils and the communities that work within the forestry and timber industries, TTV is committed to maintaining sustainable practices to ensure the industry continues into the future.
Quick links
- Myths and falsehoods plague local mixed species timber industry, 21 December 2021
- New Report shows timber contributes $1.4B to Victoria’s economy, 17 December 2021
- Specialised analysis for the Timber Towns Victoria council areas, 2021
- Reversal on ‘water rule’ allows Victoria to plant 100 million more trees to store carbon, 29 October 2021
- Timber Towns welcomes transparency around native timber ban, 15 October 2021
- Native timber industry key to tackling climate change, 11 August 2021
- Native timber industry is sustainable, says Timber Towns ahead of government review of Timber Code of Practice, 9 July 2021
- Timber Towns warns massive job losses if native timber industry closes, 17 May 2021
- Read the Rural Councils Victoria report, Economic Impact Assessment of the creation & retention of rural jobs
For more information, contact Timber Towns Victoria President, Glenelg Shire Deputy Mayor Cr Karen Stephens, 0488 900 645 or email secretary@timbertownsvictoria.com.au