Victorian Labor Senator Raff Ciccone unleashes on Daniel Andrews over native timber logging ban

Daniel Andrews has come under fire from his own side of politics for his shock decision to end native timber logging early in a rare party-on-party outburst.

Daniel Andrews has come under fire from a fellow Labor MP. Picture: Luis Ascui

A federal labor senator has slammed Daniel Andrews’ decision to end native timber logging, saying it will hurt timber communities.

In a party-on-party attack, Victorian Senator Raff Ciccone has spoken out about the sudden move to bring forward the 2030 ban to next year without consultation saying there was a lot of frustration.

Senator Ciccone said the union and industry had been working with the government on a package that would support workers in several years time until the budget announcement pulled it from underneath them.

“I’m disappointed by the Vic Gov’s sudden decision to end the native timber industry as it will have a negative effect on workers and regional communities,” Senator Ciccone wrote on Twitter.

“Australia needs timber products and we need to support local forestry jobs.”

Well said @fitzhunter!

I’m disappointed by the Vic Gov’s sudden decision to end the native timber industry as it will have a negative effect on workers and regional communities.

Australia needs timber products and we need to support local forestry jobs.https://t.co/OY2zXZSNKC

— Senator Raff Ciccone (@SenRaffCiccone) May 26, 2023

Asked if more needed to be done to support the workers, he said: “I don’t think people want a package, they want their jobs.”

“They (the state government) already said 2030, why now?

“Where are you going to get your timber for your furniture, for your floorboards, for your decking and other parts of the building.”

He also raised concerns about the environmental impacts of the imported timber, warning Australia could not verify its sustainability.

Victoria imported more than $150m worth of timber last year.

Australian Forest Products Association acting CEO, Natasa Sikman, said: “It was unconscionable that we are closing down our world leading sustainable industries here while we import products, often from places with lesser environmental controls than Australia”.

Ms Sikman has called on the federal government to discuss issues around Australia’s increasing reliance of imports, saying it would reduce our sovereign capability.

Originally published as Victorian Labor Senator Raff Ciccone unleashes on Daniel Andrews over native timber logging ban