‘Frankly he’s wrong’: Andrews responds to resignation over native logging ban - Sky News Australia

Tuesday’s state budget set aside $200 million for a support package that will transition workers away from native timber logging by the end of 2023.

The announcement subsequently led to the CFMEU’s Michael O’Connor resigning from the Victorian Forestry Plan Advisory Committee, citing the government’s failure to consult.

"The advisory committee was, quite frankly, a sham," Mr O’Connor told AAP.

"The union is not interested in being a prop for the state's media unit."

But speaking on Wednesday, Mr Andrews rebuffed the claims, insisting  his government is being honest with workers.

“That’s his view and frankly he’s wrong,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“This is all about being honest and upfront with hundreds and hundreds of workers.”

The industry has recently been hampered by increasingly severe bushfires, prolonged legal action and court decisions.

The announcement brings the government’s total support for the transition to more than $875 million.

Premier Andrews cited legal advice to the government as a major reason to bring forward the industry’s closure, which was supposed to be by 2030.

“We’ve got a number of court judgments that have been handed down by judges, not by the government,” he added.

“We had a plan to exit native timber harvesting at the end of this decade.

“A number of judgments have been handed down, one of which is on foot by way of appeal at the moment.

“We’ve got very firm legal advice from the Solicitor-General and other well-respected senior counsel, that there is every prospect that that legal action regardless of the appeal will continue.”

The government on Tuesday pledged that “every single” timber worker will be directly supported to find a new job.

A statement said there were no alternative timber supply sources “available domestically or internationally” that can offset the disruptions in Victoria.

“All of that has drastically cut the timber supply we can actually use. And that’s left workers in complete limbo,” it said.

“Hundreds of workers, across Victoria, haven’t been able to work a day in recent months.

“They’ve got no certainty over their jobs. They don’t even know when they’ll be able to get back to work.”

The government said workers would be retrained through its Free TAFE program, which will help them get employment in industries such as construction, agriculture, transport and manufacturing.

They will also be supported by up to $8,000 in retraining vouchers.

While the announcement was celebrated by environmentalists and Greens politicians alike, the Coalition said the decision signified the "final death warrant" of the industry in Victoria.

Deputy Leader of The Nationals in Victoria Emma Kealy said the government’s decision is "based on politics" and will cause untold damage to regional communities.

“Daniel Andrews and Labor are punishing regional Victorian communities to advance a radical green agenda that panders to inner-city Greens voters," she said.

“So many communities rely on the timber industry for their survival and will be shattered by this decision.”

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2023-05-24 05:08:21Z
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