For 10 years, saw mill operators and forestry industry leaders have been expressing their concerns about the future of the industry under the Liberals.
Instead of giving the timber industry certainty about the future of forestry in Tasmania, the Liberals have waited until an election and announced a policy clearly aimed at reigniting conflict and using timber industry jobs as a political football.
It was clear that the Liberals have not consulted with the sector on their policy announcement. This was confirmed during Felix Ellis’s interview on ABC this morning when he could not name one sawmiller that supports this initiative.
Clearly, the Liberals announcement is nothing more than a stunt.
The state’s forestry industry has been plagued by supply issues and these concerns have been raised with the Liberals on numerous occasions.
The Liberals could have acted when they were in government for 10 years, but they chose not to.
Labor has been talking to industry and will release our full Tasmanian-first Forestry Policy in the coming days.
Unlike the Liberals announcement, this has real solutions that will bolster our economy and secure regional jobs.
It is time for the Liberals to go. Tasmania deserves a better future under a Labor Government.
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Minister for Resources