CFMEU Forestry State Secretary Scott McLean said today the amendments will allow development of a comprehensive forest plantation strategy and a national review of the impact of log exports, to ensure the long term future of forest industries.
“We are working towards an end to whole log exports from Australia.”
“The Union is passionate in its advocacy for value adding and downstream processing in Australia and improving Government engagement in the industry via a national review,” Mr. McLean said.
“When this policy development and industry support work is not done in an integrated way and at a national level, we get catastrophes like the closure of the Scottsdale Mill.”
“Nowhere is this more evident than in the Tasmanian context, but the same can be said for the industry around Australia.”
Mr. McLean said that the Union had campaigned for some time for better Federal Government support for the industry and today’s policy amendments would provide a platform through which this could occur.
“Our union will continue its advocacy on behalf of workers and the industry and our encouragement of downstream processing and value adding, so export of the raw timber resource is minimised.”
