Labor’s dirty deal with The Greens to pass controversial changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act will decimate Australia’s forestry sector, sending jobs offshore, and deliver the death knell to an industry under siege from inner city environmentalists.
Nationals Senator for New South Wales and Shadow Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Water, and Emergency Management, Ross Cadell, said the deal would result in the premature end of one of Australia’s great industries.
“Australia’s forestry sector has a reputation as one of the world’s best when it comes to modern sustainable practices and environmental stewardship,” Cadell said.
“Despite that, this heavy-handed approach from Labor and The Greens takes no consideration for the industry’s commitment and instead looks focused on offshoring timber supply.
“When you drive industry offshore, you’re not just losing local jobs but you’re deconstructing our sovereign capability.
“The timber industry hasn’t been consulted on these changes, instead they have been told how they should think by a government that can barely manage its own books.
Liberal Senator for Western Australia and Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Matt O’Sullivan, described the potential impact on the sector as catastrophic.
“Canberra has inserted itself into every decision, stripping away the legal certainty forestry once relied on. Costs are rising, red and green tape is growing, and operators are left in a constant state of uncertainty,” O’Sullivan said.
“The $300 million Forestry Growth Fund only deepens the problem. It is almost entirely geared towards plantation focused modernisation leaving all other forestry sectors to effectively age out. That means rural and regional towns that rely on native forestry will be left without viable work.”
Senator O’Sullivan also warned of broader national consequences; “Australia already imports more timber than we produce. Cutting native supply will only widen the gap and risk reliance on countries with poor logging standards.”
“In a time when housing construction is already years behind, further restricting supply through this looming ban will make an already strained system even worse.”
Senator Cadell criticised the Government’s proposed forestry growth fund, describing it as nothing more than an excuse for a photo opportunity.
“$300 million for a forestry growth fund is akin to planting a garden shrub in the forest and expecting it to support the nation’s timber supply.
“It is not a retooling package like the PM has suggested, it is a de-tooling of the entire industry.
“By the time this package delivers any real-world impact, the jobs, the people, and the industry will be a distant memory. Planting trees today won’t save jobs tomorrow.”