The CFMEU Forestry and Furnishing Products Division is calling on the new WA administration to act urgently to save local timber communities and the entire industry, which has been left in disarray by the previous state government.
CFMEU Forestry and Furnishing Products Division National Secretary Michael O’Connor today said that the industry required urgent intervention, with native forest levels and harvesting rates a complete mess.
“The whole industry on the verge of collapse. It is no longer a matter of how many jobs could be lost in the industry, but if there will be any jobs at all, if the current mess is not sorted out quickly.”
“The union believes that the harvesting rate is over 30% too high.”
“This is a direct result of the previous governments botched implementation of Gallop’s National Park strategy.”
Mr O’Connor said that the new WA Government should call an urgent meeting of the industry and the union to try and develop immediate steps to save as many jobs as possible.
“Timber industry jobs have been needlessly placed in danger due to disgraceful public policy, executed in an incompetent and dishonest manner,” Mr O’Connor said.
