“It’s ridiculous that we have record fuel loads in our bush, yet Victorians are facing a firewood shortage.”
That was the message from Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, in State Parliament recently.
“When the government shut down the native timber industry, it removed the state’s biggest provider of commercial firewood – and has done nothing to fix the shortage. In fact, its policies have made it worse,” Mr Bull said.
“A week after the latest firewood collection season opened, there was no wood available in the designated collection zones. So, while our bush is full of fallen timber and debris, people can’t collect it because of government policy.”
Mr Bull said a practical, common-sense approach would allow people to collect firewood while at the same time reducing bushfire fuel loads.
“With some sensible oversight, one problem could help fix the other, but that seems too logical for this Environment Minister,” he said.
“Instead, there’s little or no wood in the official collection areas and only limited commercial supply because of Labor’s timber decision.
“People are now faced with two options: collect illegally or go cold next winter – and many are choosing the first out of necessity.”
Mr Bull said the situation reflected a Minister “with no real understanding of his portfolio”.
“A simple policy change could solve this. The one thing we should never run out of in East Gippsland is firewood,” he said.
