Civil contractors working in forestry management are shrouded in uncertainty after the Andrews Government said it would transition displaced native timber workers into the industry.
Forestry management contractors have for decades been performing work for the state government to construct firebreaks, maintain bush access roads, remove dangerous trees in water catchments and undertake bushfire mitigation activities.
Labor’s sudden closure of the native timber has now put a big question mark over all state government civil work contracts and caused a plethora of uncertainty for existing forestry management workers.
Questioning Labor’s Minister for Environment in state parliament, The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath sought a guarantee that existing forest management civil contractors will not lose their existing contracts.
Responding to Ms Bath, Minister for the Environment Ingrid Stitt said she “was not in position to give definitive timeframes yet”.
IMAGE: Forestry management workers face an uncertain future after the State Government said it would transition displaced timber workers into the industry, according to Nationals MP, Melina Bath.