Q& A Panel

QWhat are the short-term issues facing those affected that need to addressed?

Emma Kealy

There is less than six months until Labor shuts down Victoria’s sustainable native timber industry. So far, all we have seen from Daniel Andrews, Jacinta Allan and this Labor Government are media releases, spin and talk. Without real action, timber towns will be punished for their incompetence.

The uncertainty of not knowing if you’ll have a job in six months’ time is having a critical impact on the mental health of not just timber workers, but their children and other family members too. Daniel Andrews promised face-toface mental health support and has yet to provide any specialised services to these communities, and this must change immediately. Labor’s cost of living crisis is already taking a significant toll on timber workers and allied businesses across the state, who simply don’t know where their income will come from in six short months. While replacement industries and jobs have been promised by Labor, not a single additional new job has been created since Labor’s shut-down of the sustainable native timber industry was announced. Without proper planning, the sustainable native timber industry’s closure could exacerbate the cost of living crisis right across Victoria. The sustainable native timber industry is integral for the smooth running of our supply chains, particularly pallets produced using hardwood. Proper planning is essential to maintain the supply of pallets, with recent history showing us that any shortage will risk the supply of food and medication that Victorians rely on every single day.

Deb Kerr

The abrupt closure of native forestry in Victoria means the state faces immediate challenges. Not just the industry, but everyone in Victoria. To address these issues clearly and effectively, the government must consider the following: Support and mental health: The way the announcement has been handled, and the fact that everyone in the industry was blindsided by the decision, means it can significantly impact mental well-being. Organisations such as ForestWorks and government bodies provide counselling services, work- shops, and resources to help individuals cope with the emotional challenges they may be facing now. Considering the new timeline, the implementation of those programs needs to be sped up. Organisers must also identify which areas need more resources and reassess how the requirements have shifted.

Loss of income and investment: Another main concern is the financial impact on business, employees, and stakeholders. Transition packages for sawmills that, prior to the announcement, had chosen to remain operational until 2030 rather than opt out early should have priority. By providing a fair support system, the government can alleviate the financial burden for these businesses.

Retraining opportunities: When forestry workers start moving away, this has ripple effects across the entire community. Less kids in schools, less support for local sport clubs, less customers for local businesses. Those affected by the closure need access to comprehensive retraining programs. Again, ForestWorks is currently working on programs for re-training and relocation. Empowering individuals to acquire new skills and explore alternative employment options could help with immediate job losses and minimise the impact on communities as much as possible.

Sourcing fibre for continuing mills: For mills that continue operations, ensuring a reliable supply of fibre becomes paramount. Exploring alternative sources, including imports, can help bridge the gap caused by the closure of native forestry and ensures that we retain manufacturing capabilities in the state. The government seems to have accepted that this fibre is likely to come from countries with poorer environmental and corruption indexes than Australia.

Clarity for affected regions: We are already seeing unintended consequences, such as an increase in illegal harvesting (e.g. for firewood) in Victoria’s forests. We will see more of this as the cost pressures and lack of available timber worsen - what is the Government doing to ensure adequate supplies are available under community licences and community pools for collection to avoid this? Regions require clear guidelines regarding firewood collection points, small-scale timber producers, and the involvement of Traditional Owners (TOs). So far, the promised ‘certainty’ has not been fulfilled.

The state government needs to look at ensuring there is adequate funding applied to the transition programs within these affected communities and that the funding is applied to the major areas of concern including but not limited to: mental health, upskilling, and future strategies for these communities economies to survive and thrive.

QWhat are the long-term issues facing those affected that need to addressed?

Emma Kealy

Victoria’s native timber industry is not only sustainable, but a better environmental option than shipping our best-practice industry and jobs overseas. Exporting our timber industry means that we lose our oversight and regulation of how timber harvesting and forestry is managed, including threats to endangered species of flora and fauna. Victorians will now be forced to buy timber in the competitive international market against other nations looking to import wood products, meaning our supply will be at the whim of the global market and bear the additional financial and environment cost of shipping and importation. Labor has no plan going forward on how replacement industries and jobs will be established in areas where job losses will be felt the most. We also know that Labor has failed to meet their own deadlines to deliver new plantations, which poses ongoing issues in our supply of timber and in providing alternative jobs for timber towns. Judging by the failed Latrobe Valley Authority, our timber towns will struggle to transition and recover from Labor’s cruel actions.

The Andrews Labor Government has also stubbornly refused to acknowledge how the closure of ancillary heavy machinery industries will impact critical bushfire prevention and firefighting activities, putting lives and property at risk as specialised skills and equipment are lost over time. This will also put the local environment at risk if alternative land management, bushfire prevention and firefighting arrangements are not put in place to replace what is lost from this industry’s closure.

Deb Kerr

In addition to short-term challenges, there are longterm issues that require attention and strategic solutions:

Re-employment opportunities: Finding suitable job prospects for workers affected by the closure is a significant long-term concern. The government needs to identify emerging industries and provide targeted training programs to equip workers with the skills needed for new job opportunities.

QWhat needs to be done immediately?

Emma Kealy

With less than six months until Labor shuts down Victoria’s sustainable native timber industry, it’s time to see real action and support on the ground – not just media releases, spin and talk.

The Premier must honour his commitment to provide face-to-face mental health support.

Communities and businesses that indirectly financially rely on Victoria’s sustainable native timber industry have been forgotten by Labor, and must immediately be provided with details are what compensation will be provided to buy out their machinery and support job losses.

Victorians also need to know what the Andrews Labor Government will do to ensure an uninterrupted supply of hardwood is available to ensure we can still streamline the process and minimise disruptions, stabilising the timber supply chain.

While this sounds good in theory, the reality is that for many small communities in eastern Victoria, there will simply be no employment opportunity in an alternative industry. Workers who can, will move away. Some will, for various reasons such as age, mobility, finances, carer duties or family structures, be unable to move away. But they may also be unable to find paid work in their community.

Preserving skills: To prevent the loss of valuable skills in affected regions, strategies to retain and transfer expertise to new sectors is important. Skills development programs, mentorship opportunities, and knowledge-sharing platforms are underway through ForestWorks, but a lot needs to be done to preserve the unique skills and experiences acquired in the forestry sector. Simple measures such as videos showing the skills of current employees, for example when operating mill equipment, would serve two purposes. It would demonstrate their value and help future employers understand their skills and abilities.

Impact on innovation in the hardwood processing industry: Many businesses that operate off the back of hardwood timber have been at the forefront of innovation and have developed high tech processing and products. The incentive to continue investing and innovating is reliant on access to wood fibre over long planning horizons and despite the Government’s messaging that there is a transition to plantation grown timber, there is simply not enough product being grown to support the greater industry.

Identifying replacement industries: So far, the government has not been able to identify replacement industries for affected communities. Attempts to replace forestry with ecotourism, as has been suggested by environmental activists, has been an abject failure elsewhere – there is nothing to suggest eastern Victoria will be any different. We encourage the government to incentivise companies to set up business in regional Victoria, along with setting up decent infrastructure such as housing to attract both businesses and workers alike.

Forest management and Traditional Owners: Re- sponsible forest management practices and engaging Traditional Owners in decision-making processes are key considerations for the long term. By involving Traditional Owners in planning and management, we could promote environmental stewardship and community empowerment.

Karen Stephens access medications at the pharmacy and food at the supermarket.

Victoria needs to be able to meet the current and future timber demand. Certainty around timber supply demand. There needs to be certainty around the future of plantation timber and that includes the trees on farms program. If a farmer plants a tree and goes to harvest it in 30 years time, they need to have certainty that the government is not going to change the legislation between now and the trees harvesting time. They need certainty that they will be able to harvest their investment in the future. At the moment there is no certainty that this would be the case and so the confidence in farmers investing in tree planting on their properties to be able to harvest the timber in the future is low. Adding to this is the availability of suitable timbers and access to reliable overseas markets.

Most importantly, locals need to see action on the ground and Labor’s promised newly created jobs being advertised so that timber workers can plan for their future. This would provide the certainty that timber workers and timber towns desperately need.

Deb Kerr

To address the current situation effectively, the following immediate actions should be prioritised: Ensure timber harvesting continues: To address the current timber supply shortfall, it is crucial to ensure uninterrupted timber harvesting until the end of the year. Collaborative efforts between industry stakeholders, government bodies, and regulatory agencies can

Provide certainty and planning for affected groups: The government should immediately create a comprehensive plan for small-scale harvesters, Traditional Owners, and firewood producers in Victoria. Victoria should avoid the lock up and leave approach to forest management that will undoubtedly have perverse impacts for many Victorians and the wide uses of Victoria’s state forests.

Mental health support: As mentioned above, the closure of native forestry can have a significant impact on the mental well-being of those affected. And while there is a process to help workers, what forest workers ultimately want is to work, take pride in their jobs and provide for their families.

Address firefighting capacity gap: With the potential impact of a ‘super El Niño’ on fire risks, addressing any existing firefighting capacity gaps is essential. Immediate measures should be taken to bolster resources, including personnel, equipment, and training, to ensure adequate response capabilities. Collaboration with emergency services and government agencies is crucial for effectively addressing these gaps and enhancing community safety.

Contingency planning and responsible timber imports: One of the many unanswered questions is: Where will our wood come from? The reliance on hardwood imports raises concerns about the carbon footprint of those imports, and the impact on exporting countries with poorer environmental credentials. Collaborative efforts between Victoria’s State Government and the Federal Government are needed to establish stringent regulations and certifications for timber imports. By safeguarding against unsustainable or illegally harvested timber (both here and in exporting countries), we can maintain the integrity of local ecosystems and support responsible global trade practices.

Karen Stephens

There needs to be conversations and consultation with stakeholders around the legislation and understanding the environmental impacts around the decisions that have been made. With a lack of forest management in Victoria, we now face a range of adverse consequences. Clear strategies and funding for the active management and monitoring of these forests need to happen now. And there needs to be a plan to retain specialist skills, experience and expert knowledge from the management of these forests so we can continue to monitor, mitigate and respond effectively to bushfire emergencies.