Victorian Labor has hurt local businesses, offering significantly reduced work for those who manage the bushfire threat in our state forests, according to local MP, Tim Bull.
The Forest Fire Management panel of workers have had, without notice, a massive reduction in their contract work.
Mr Bull said it is disgraceful that the State Government has starved work from these family-run businesses, after being promised similar volumes of employment as previous years.
Mr Bull explained that Forest Fire Management (FFM) engages a panel of external local contractors who undertake important bush maintenance, including maintaining forest fire access roads and other important fire preparation work.
“Panel members, who invest in gear and equipment, have reported FFM has failed to issue any job orders so far, this financial year. The loss of work has led to business distress and job losses,” he said.
“These contractors are small business operators who have to maintain very expensive equipment and be on stand-by for when they are called to help out in the event of a bushfire. Having the tap turned off on all work without notice hits them hard.
“I wrote to the Minister for Environment asking why these contractors have not been engaged, as the region simply can’t sustain any further loss of this skilled workforce – especially in the wake of the native timber industry shut-down.
“In a response he conceded, ‘this reduction in the volume of civil forest works is a temporary variation’, and while he has committed to work returning at a later date, the failure to inform these businesses of the cutbacks is extremely damaging.
“In addition to this, with the state of fuel loads in our bush, we should not be reducing any fire mitigation services.
“My office has been contacted by many of these businesses asking why they have not received one single contract. The Minister should have directed his department to communicate openly so these local businesses would be aware.
“At a time when Labor is boasting about employment figures, it continues to put regional jobs on the chopping block.
“Labor can’t manage money, doesn’t care about regional jobs, and cannot manage its public land,” Mr Bull said.
