The timber union says a new anti-dumping commission will help to protect jobs in the timber and pulp paper industry in the Green Triangle. The Federal Government announced the commission would ensure goods imported into Australia are not sold below cost. Source: ABC News
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union’s national secretary, Michael O’Connor, said it was a welcome move that will ease pressure on the industry.
He said it was hoped it would assure a strong future for the timber industry.
“Clearly what we want to see is our factories and our mills being competitive and our members are willing to be competitive but we want to make sure the rules are the same for everybody else,” he said.
“It’s needed to be stamped out, the Government now seems to be moving aggressively to stamp it out and that’s good news for jobs and good news for regional economies.”
O’Connor said the Government had listened to the union’s concerns.
“That’s a good thing, now from time to time governments don’t act fast enough and don’t act at all but on this occasion we clearly have to thank the Government for moving and we hope these mechanisms will work,” he said.
“We want to have a strong, vibrant timber and pulp paper industry in the south-east and hopefully that’s what we’ll get from this type of action from the Government.”
