It’s time for Brumby to step up and rescue Victoria’s logging industry

10 September 2010
Media Release

The Wilderness Society today called on the Brumby government to urgently develop a program to assist the native forest sector’s transition into plantations, following today’s stunning announcement by logging giant Gunns to transition out of native forests.

“The Tasmanian logging industry is at the point of collapse, due to a lack of leadership by state governments on both sides of politics. It’s time for the Brumby government to demonstrate leadership, avoid the same debacle in Victoria, and urgently develop a plan for the native forest industry to transition into existing plantations,” said Victorian Campaigns Manager Gavan McFadzean.

“Gunns should be congratulated for announcing that their future is in plantations instead of native forests.”

“Because Gunns also control half of the Victorian native forest sawlog industry, this announcement will sent shockwaves through the Victorian sector.”

The good news is that Victoria’s plantation resource matures this year, at a volume several times what is available in native forests. Over ninety percent of the Victorian native forest industry can substitute into plantations.”

“If the Brumby government does not want the entire Victorian native forest sector on the dole queue, it should assist industry in making an orderly and compassionate transition into Victoria’s huge plantation resource.”

“The Victorian native forest sector has dramatically reduced in size in recent years and now employs approximately 1000 people. The Victorian government should urgently develop a transition plan so that these jobs can be transferred into plantation, native forest management and other sectors.”

“Within this turbulence in the native forest sector lies a huge opportunity to resolve one of state’s longest running and divisive issues. The Brumby government can develop a plan to protect old growth forests, water catchments areas and some of the world’s largest carbon banks, while supporting the development of an innovative world class plantation based wood products sector which provides jobs in regional Victoria.”