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issue 230 | 16.07.12 | Page 1
Union pleads for anti-dumping law
This Issue
• Design awards capture imagination of architects • Plywood gets green tick for carbon storage
Job losses will escalate unless the government acts on imports: CFMEU
UNIONS and federal MPs are calling on the federal government to establish an anti-dumping agency “to prevent the loss of hundreds of jobs in the timber industry”. They claim almost 30% of house framing timber in the Australian market is imported and priced at below cost of production. However, few if any have criticised the quality and standard of much of this material. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union says hundreds of jobs have already been cut during the past year at processing facilities owned by Carter Holt Harvey, KimberlyClarke and Gunns. The CFMEU’s ‘green triangle’
Puppets on a string .. Australian builders using more low-cost imported timber.
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district secretary for southwest Victoria and southeast South Australia Brad Coates says if ultra-cheap timber continues to be dumped on the market, hundreds more jobs will be lost. “If we could reduce dumping by even 10% we might save possibly a thousand jobs,” he said. “If we don’t, we’re going to be looking at a tsunami within the next 12 to 18 months.” Mr Coates says the rate of job losses will escalate unless the government acts soon. “My fear is that we are looking down the barrel of losing hundreds if not thousands of jobs throughout the region if
Cont Page 3
• Brett Gilmore NZ forester of the year • Forest peace talks lesson for mainland • National forest centre partnership of key stakeholders • Why lock up our productive forests? • First trade expo dedicated to wood products
issue 230 | 16.07.12 | Page 1