The Andrews Labor Government has signed the final death warrant for Victoria's sustainable native timber industry and entire communities in the state's east.
Despite promising a staged transition through to 2030, today's brutal State Budget confirms the industry will shut down totally on 1 January, 2024.
The native timber industry represents a large segment of the state's overall timber industry, creating 2500 jobs and generating more than $770 million in revenue each year.
Labor's decision to fast-track its demise means that timber communities are being punished by Government incompetence.
In late 2019, the Andrews Labor Government promised a phased transition to a plantation-based supply, with the Government now abandoning their plan.
Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said the Government's decision is based on politics, not science or fact.
"Daniel Andrews and Labor are punishing regional Victorian communities to advance a radical green agenda that panders to inner-city Greens voters.
"So many communities rely on the timber industry for their survival and will be shattered by this decision.
"Without the timber industry's man power and heavy machinery, our capacity to fight bushfires will be significantly reduced, putting our forests and regional communities in harm's way.
"This decision will kill our timber industry and cause untold damage to our regional communities."
