Opal's decision to end white pulp and paper production at the Maryvale Mill marks a sad day for Australian manufacturing and our sustainable native forest industries, CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Joel Fitzgibbon and CEO of the Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) Deb Kerr said today.
Opal has confirmed the decision to cease white pulp and paper operations at the Maryvale Mill due to the recent suspension of timber harvesting in Victoria's state forests.
"We will continue to remind decision-makers about the importance and sustainability of Australian native forestry. My thoughts are with the company and its employees today. It's a sad day," Joel Fitzgibbon said.
Deb Kerr said, "The reality now is that all our white paper will be imported. The risk now is many of the things we use on a daily basis that require native timber or fibre could be produced in countries with less robust environmental standards."
"AFPA and VFPA will continue to educate political leaders, other decision makers and the broader community about the fact that native forestry is sustainable and necessary to create a multitude of different everyday products including floorboards, furniture, structural timbers for housing and paper," Joel Fitzgibbon concluded.
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