The Victorian Native Forest Industry has been treated with absolute contempt by the Andrews Government.
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change should be ashamed of herself for, in the first instance providing an open door policy for Green Activists and secondly allowing her department to block Vicforests at every turn.
The most frustrating aspect of Lily D’Ambrosio’s performance has been her refusal to make the required changes to the Code of Practice that would have stopped third part litigation that currently has 80% of the Coupes on the Timber Release Plan shut down by Court Injunction.
The Minister has actively worked against her own Government’s Policy that committed to transition the Industry to Plantation by 2030 and to continue harvesting at 2019 volumes with a gradual reduction from 2024-25.
Given the Premiers propensity to sack Minister’s, especially women, I can’t work out how Lily has survived. One would have to think that the Premier has been complicit and supportive of her inaction.
The way the Industry has been treated is an absolute disgrace. Sawmills now out of supply and standing down workers, Opal Paper with no hardwood pulp, Harvest and Haul Contractors with equipment parked up and their employees leaving the industry and Vicforest Staff dealing with the stress of a very uncertain future.
The construction industry is desperately short of supply and this is pushing up prices and impacting on first home buyers in particular.
Nothing will happen before the Election as Labor desperately shores up their preference deals with the Greens in nearly 30 seats around Melbourne.
For the sake of the Industry and Victoria we must elect a Guy/Walsh Government on November 26th.
Matthew Guy has promised to return the Industry to pre 2019 harvesting levels, stop third party litigation and continue to allow sustainable harvesting that protects all values of the Forest, whilst supplying high quality and much sought after hardwood products and supporting the economies of Country communities.
As I leave my Parliamentary career it is with a great sadness that the Industry that I love is in such a terrible situation. I will always regret not being able to do more for you.
I encourage everyone involved in the Industry, supporters and across the supply chain to stick together, support each other and don’t give up.
In signing off, you will always have my support and I salute you all.
Gary Blackwood is retiring as the Member for Narracan at the November State elections after 16 years in State Parliament.
