One Nation says it will move to revive Victoria’s neglected forestry sector if it wins the Victorian state election in November.
Party leader Warren Pickering said it was time to reverse Labor’s forced shutdown of the industry.
“Australia now has a $2 billion trade deficit in wood products,” Mr Pickering said. “This doesn’t make sense in a country our size, which has all the land we need to become self-sufficient in timber.
“Our home-grown industry is struggling against cheap imports from countries with lower environmental stewardship standards. In Victoria there are 17,000 forestry jobs at risk.
“One Nation aims to implement a ‘local wood first’ policy in Victorian government procurement policies to help protect local jobs in areas like the Gippsland. We’ll push for
country-of-origin labelling on timber and wood products so consumers can choose Australian and support the industry. We’ll also work to ensure there is a steady supply of workers by supporting training and education.”
Mr Pickering said One Nation would also move to restore resources for native forest management.
“Victoria’s forests are in bad shape,” he said. “Pest animals and plants are not being managed. Public funding and resources are completely inadequate for maintaining state forests and national parks.
“Best practice forestry management requires regular access to manage invasive species, forest health and bushfire risk. Locking up forests without this sort of access just invites worse outcomes.
“We’ll provide the access that’s needed, implementing detailed forest practice plans based on sustainable selective harvesting models successfully used interstate and overseas, with detailed monitoring and oversight.
“Environmentally sensitive old growth forest and native habitats will be strictly protected, and the model will be self-sustaining by funding management operations through harvest revenue.”
