The union is planning to make it an important election issue in regional seats in upcoming state elections if state ministers don’t defend local jobs.
The problem means that currently “six star” timber products must be sourced from overseas, ironically from countries where illegal and unsustainable logging has occurred.
Mr O’Connor said that whilst Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke was already moving on the issue, relevant state ministers needed to support him in order to put pressure on the Green Building Council to see sense.
“Domestic timber that is harvested according to sustainable worlds best practice must be able to compete with overseas products.”
“The union is tired of seeing job losses around the country as a result of this unrepresentative organisation and its absurd accreditation system.”
“If we have to, we will put pressure on state governments in ‘timber seats’ at upcoming elections, if our communities do not get co-operation on this most basic of issues.”
“Job security and investment in our sustainable industry will increasingly be retarded whilst ever Australian timber products are unable to compete on a level playing field with overseas timber products.
“Currently multi million dollar contracts are being lost by Australian companies for no good reason.”
