Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Minister for Forestry

Monday 6th February, 2012

Only one in seven ex-forestry workers has found a full-time job

Latest statistics give an insight into the devastating impact of the disastrous forestry deal, confirming that the majority of ex-forestry workers have been left out in the cold with no alternative employment.

A report in the Examiner today reveals that of the 330 plus people who have contacted Forest Works after losing their job as a result of the intergovernmental agreement, only one in seven has since found full-time employment.

This is an absolute disgrace, and puts to bed the Labor-Green lie that alternative work is available for forestry workers.

These are the very workers that Giddings promised to support when she became Premier. Instead she has sold out to the Greens with a disastrous deal that sacrifices a billion dollar industry by locking up our working forests.

The forestry deal is not only destroying an industry, it is destroying hundreds of livelihoods across Tasmania.

It’s time for the Premier to finally admit the folly of her attempted appeasement, ditch the Greens, and instead work with the Liberals to grow the forest industry, which is one of the cornerstone industries of our economy.