The Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) has welcomed the launch of the Parliamentary support group for the forest and wood products industry. Source: Timberbiz
Convened by Liberal MP Gary Blackwood and Labor MP Joe Helper, the new group was launched by Victorian agriculture minister Peter Walsh and saw the attendance of approximately 40 Victorian members of parliament and 100 industry representatives.
VAFI CEO Lisa Marty said forestry and the industries that rely on it for wood and paper products had too often been subject to political debate without the appropriate understanding needed to make decisions about this important sector of the economy.
“The forest and wood products industry produces more than $400 million in logs each year, generates $7.8 billion in sales and services income and directly employs approximately 24,000 people,” Marty said.
“We are an important part of the local economy and the products we produce are renewable, store carbon and are always the environmental choice.”
The keynote speaker, Paul Klymenko, CEO of environmental group Planet Ark, spoke about the importance of using forest and wood products to improve sustainability.
Liberal Party convenor and Parliamentary Secretary for Forestry and Fisheries, Gary Blackwood, said the high attendance of the launch was a strong sign that MPs from all major parties recognised the importance of the industry for their electorates and across the State.
“Besides those directly working in forestry, tens of thousands of people are employed across Victoria working in furniture making, manufacturing construction materials for new homes, and paper making using materials from our forests and plantations,” Blackwood said.
Labor convenor and former agriculture minister Joe Helper said the bipartisan nature of the group showed the forest and wood products industry was recognised for both its economic and environmental importance to Victoria.
“Victoria manages its forests to world’s best standards and the forest and wood products industry is one of the most sustainable sectors of our local economy,” he said.
“It is great to see Victoria’s elected representatives out in force, recognising this important contribution and choosing to engage with the industry.”
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, John Lenders, who spoke at the event, also welcomed the launch.
