Native logging to end in 2030: Jaclyn Symes caught in act of hypocrisy

The Andrews Government was saying native forest logging had a future up until last month, but has now decreed harvesting will end by 2030.

Split view: Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes told timber workers last month native forest logging had a future, but now the Andrews Government has decided to shut down the industry, which employs 2500 workers. Picture: Dannika Bonser

EXCLUSIVE: VICTORIAN Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes has been caught out in a major act of hypocrisy, as she oversees government plans to end native forest logging by 2030.

Just last month Ms Symes wrote to Corryong sawmill owner Graham Walker, reassuring him his mill and workers had a future.

“I understand that industry has concerns around the lack of certainty for the future of commercial forestry in Victoria,” she wrote.

But in her letter, dated October 7, Ms Symes stated: “It is the Victorian Government’s view that the careful management of Victoria’s State Forest can support the sustainable supply of resources as well as protection of biodiversity”.

“I recommend that you continue to work with VicForests to fully utilise the available timber resources to supply your mill.”

The letter stands in stark contrast to the comments from the Andrews Government and Ms Symes yesterday, when she told The Weekly Times “the native timber industry isn’t sustainable” and “we do not have enough native forest to meet demand.”

The backflip reinforces timber industry concerns the decision was rushed through at the last moment, given the Government was going to assist 2500 mill workers, harvest and haulage contractors find work.

In announcing the wind-down of native forest logging Mr Andrews simply stated there was $120 million on the table and released a one-page Victorian Forestry Plan.

Harvest and haulage contractors, plus hundreds of mill workers, face a bleak future, with the flow-on effects set to sweep through Warbuton, Noojee, Drouin, Violet Town, Powelltown Corryong, Orbost, Benalla and timber-reliant communities across the Latrobe Valley.

MORE: 2500 VICTORIAN TIMBER WORKERS FACE BLEAK FUTURE

NATIVE LOGGING TO END 2030

VicForests has told timber contractors their supply of sawlogs will almost be halved by 2025-26, as it prepares to enact the Andrews Government decree that all native forest harvesting must end by 2030.

In a letter to contractors VicForests’ chief executive Monique Dawson said total harvest levels would be maintained at current levels to 2024, then cut by 25 per cent in 2025, and a further 25 per cent from 2026 to 2030.

“We will maintain current D+ sawlog harvest levels until mid-2024 (253,000 m3 per annum) then 185,000m3 in 2024-25 reducing to 140,000m3 per annum from 2025/26 until 2030,” she said.

“This new policy may be disappointing for you and your employees.

“It is important for you to know that this policy is not a reflection on VicForests’ operations or the native timber industry. The Government has decided that this change is necessary to provide clarity to industry while responding to community expectations about the management of environmental values.”