Andrews’ Government stonewalls timber communities

See our timeline of how timber communities were stonewalled by the Andrews’ Government – including which documents they refused to release.

Powelltown Saw Mill workers have not been told why the Andrews Government believes their industry must end. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

A Weekly Times investigation can reveal farmers, forest contractors, rural councils and even bushfire scientists are hitting brick walls in their attempts to gain access to key government data and documents.

This includes Premier Daniel Andrews refusal to release documents underpinning his ruling that native-forest logging is “not sustainable” and must be phased out by 2030 with the loss of 2500 jobs.

See our timeline below of how timber communities have been stonewalled by the Andrews’ Government.

OCTOBER 7, 2019:

Then-Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes wrote to Corryong sawmill owner Graham Walker, reassuring him that his mill and workers had a future, stating: “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”.

NOVEMBER 7, 2019:

Premier Daniel Andrews announced the timber industry was not sustainable and all native forest logging would come to an end by 2030, stunning the timber industry’s 2500 workers in Corryong, Orbost, Warburton, Noojee, Violet Town, Powelltown, Benalla and Heyfield. From then on Mr Andrews told the media and parliament that native forest logging is “not sustainable into the medium and long term”, but refused to release the science and rationale behind the claim.

NOVEMBER 26, 2019:

Wellington and East Gippsland Shires write to the Premier requesting the data and scientific basis for the phase-out decision.

MARCH 26, 2020:

Then-Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes responds with a letter stating: “While Cabinet decision-making is confidential, I can advise the Government’s decision was informed by wide-ranging consultation and assessment.” No information was supplied on the science behind the decision.

JUNE AND JULY 2020:

The Native Timber Taskforce is formed in response to the Government’s refusal to provide the science behind the phase out. It is chaired by Wellington Shire in partnership with East Gippsland Shire Council, Timber Towns Victoria, National Timber Council, Australia Sustainable Hardwoods, Radial Timber and the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union.

JULY 2020:

The taskforce lodges Freedom of Information requests seeking all documents relating to the phase out with the Premier’s office, Agriculture Minister and Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.

NOVEMBER 2020:

DJPR responds to the taskforce’s FOI request stating “access is refused to the documents”.

DECEMBER 2020:

Mr Andrews office responds stating “The Office of the Premier undertook a thorough and diligent search for documents, however no documents relevant to your request were identified”.

APRIL 2021:

Wellington and East Gippsland Council release a report estimating their municipalities will lose 1110 jobs across their municipalities once native timber harvesting ends. The taskforce has lodged complaints with the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner and applications for review by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

JULY 2021:

The taskforce received 159 pages of documents from the Government, the majority of which are heavily redacted and was filled with irrelevant information that was not requested. The scientific data that was requested in the FOI request was not included.

Taskforce chair and Wellington Shire mayor Garry Stephens said “what we did finally receive from the Government was rubbish, it was a heavily redacted document that didn’t in any way answer our questions. This has been so difficult that we have no choice but to believe the government has been deliberately hindering the process in the hope that we will give up and go away.”