Shadow Forestry Minister Steve Martin is calling on the Cook Government to honour existing timber supply contracts and for the Forestry Minister Jackie Jarvis to urgently meet with the industry to discuss their concerns.
Mr Martin is backing the forestry industry as it calls out the State Government for failing to meet numerous commitments to the industry.
The Forest Industries Federation (WA) Inc. (FIFWA), the core industry group representing the native and plantation forestry industries in WA, has today highlighted broken promises from the State Government, including supplying businesses with timber they have been contracted to receive.
Former Premier Mark McGowan promised that existing contracts would be honoured to the end of 2023. The industry has called for an urgent meeting with Minister Jarvis, who has so far not agreed to meet to discuss the concerns.
“It is astonishing that after everything the State Labor Government has done to this industry, the Minister isn’t even able to sit in a room with them and discuss their concerns,” Mr Martin said.
“The McGowan and now Cook Government decided to abolish the native hardwood forestry industry in WA with no consultation, no warning and absolutely no democratic mandate to do so.
“Not only have they crushed businesses and regional communities but the mismanagement of their own policy has led to even more pain.”
Mr Martin said the industry concern highlighted that those businesses trying to survive, and work within Labor’s changes and market conditions, were being left in the dark by the Government.
“Minister Jarvis needs to urgently meet with the industry,” he said. “Her diary was too full to make it to the Katanning meeting of over 500 farmers last week but she should now find time to sit down with the forestry industry and do whatever she can to reduce the pain and disruption Labor’s decision has caused.”
