Dean Winter sounds outrage over logging contract awarded to Victorian company

A southern Tasmanian community has been left reeling and facing job losses, after the state government awarded a logging contract to a mainland company. Details >

Labor MP for Franklin, Dean Winter wrote to Resources Minister Felix Ellis asking him to review and intervene in the awarding of a tender which overlooked fifth generation Huon company T.P Bennett and Sons.

A southern Tasmanian community is reeling and facing job losses after losing a logging contract to a Victorian company.

Labor MP for Franklin Dean Winter wrote to Resources Minister Felix Ellis on Friday asking him to review and intervene in the awarding of the tender which overlooked fifth generation Huon company, T.P Bennett and Sons, who stepped in to fill a void when a previous contractor left at short notice.

“It was the brave act of Bennett’s employees who stayed to protect public infrastructure and the Southwood facility during the 2018-19 Huon bushfires,” he wrote.

“Your government has long espoused a local benefits test policy.

“Where was it on this tender?

Labor MP Dean Winter.

“How on Earth could any test take a Huon Valley contract out of the Valley and give it to a Victorian company at the expense of local jobs?”

Bennett’s business manager Tammy Bennett said she was approached by Sustainable Timbers Tasmania on Friday February 24 to fill in when a previous contractor pulled out and by Monday at 6am trucks had begun moving products.

“We took this job on to support the local contractors and the local drivers,” she said.

“We were happy to be able to provide security through our management and compliance systems and reputation for running a bloody good business!

“We don’t dispute our price was the highest, we also have undertaken this job for a number of months, and know the terrain, the restrictions, and what it costs to run an efficient and effective operation.

“But we will now have people out of work. Our price was based on the quality of the work and the social impact on the local communities.”

Sustainable Timber Tasmania said the recent tender process for a haulage contract in Southern Tasmania was conducted in accordance with its procurement policy and the Department of Treasury and Finance’s guidelines for Tasmanian Government Businesses: Buy Local.

Minister Felix Ellis. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The result of the tender assessment process was that a Victorian based bidder achieved the highest rating,” it said.

“This is the fifth open tender Sustainable Timber Tasmania has conducted using the same process in the financial year ended 30 June 2023. All previous tenders have been awarded to Tasmanian based businesses.”

STT said had been, and would continue to be, in communication with unsuccessful bidders, “to address their concerns and questions regarding the recent tender outcome”.

It said in 2021-22 it injected $105m directly into the state’s economy, with 98 per cent of all its purchases made from Tasmanian businesses.

Mr Winter said “to add insult to injury” feedback from STT highlighted Bennett’s received top scores on compliance and locally based reputation and management.