Rushy Lagoon inquiry an attack on Tasmanian timber workers
Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU)
The Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union has slammed the Rockliff Government’s push for a parliamentary inquiry into the Rushy Lagoon plantation project as an attack on Tasmanian timber workers and the future of the state’s forestry industry.
TFTU Tasmanian Secretary Danny Murphy said the Government had already been warned what the project would mean for workers, industry and regional communities.
“Only weeks ago, we wrote to every Tasmanian parliamentarian explaining that Rushy Lagoon was a major win for our industry, workers and communities.
“It means greater security of future timber supply, more investment in value-adding and more jobs in planting, harvesting, haulage, sawmilling and manufacturing.
“For decades, Tasmanian governments of both political persuasions have given bipartisan support to the forestry industry and the jobs of timber workers.
“We are shocked that the Rockliff Government would now take this action and ignore the concerns raised by timber workers and their union.”
The final report of Australia’s Timber Fibre Strategy identifies the need for new plantation investment to secure Australia’s future timber supply. It also recognises the role of the ACCU Scheme in making productive commercial plantations viable and the opportunities for forestry and agriculture to work alongside each other.
“If the Rockliff Government genuinely supports Tasmania’s timber industry, it should listen to the workers, families and communities that depend on it.
“These trees mean jobs. They mean work in our forests, on our roads and in our mills—and timber to build Tasmanian homes for decades.
“Instead of backing that investment, the Government is establishing an inquiry whose terms put plantation forestry and the Commonwealth policies supporting it under the microscope.
“The cat is already out of the bag. Agricultural lobby groups are calling for the inquiry to go beyond Rushy Lagoon and examine the wider policies supporting plantation forestry.
“This is no longer just an inquiry into the sale of one farm. The Rockliff Government is opening the door to a broader attack on productive plantation forestry.
“Timber workers will not stand by while our industry is demonised and the future resource on which our jobs depend is put at risk.
“You cannot claim to support timber workers while putting the plantations their future jobs depend on in the dock.
“This is social and economic vandalism dressed up as scrutiny.”
ENDS
Contact details:
Travis Wacey: 0427900556