Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Minister for Forestry

Wednesday 19th January 2011

500 forestry jobs lost already since Statement of Principles signed

New data from the Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry showing that 400-500 forestry jobs have been lost since October last year – when the Forestry Statement of Principles was signed – should be enough to convince the Government to dump the disastrous agreement.

Virtually all of these jobs have been lost due to Gunns’ decision to exit native forest harvesting, and are a sign of worse to come as the Forest Statement of Principles proposes the complete end of native forestry in Tasmania.

The CRC points out that for every direct job lost in forestry, another two indirect jobs in the community are also lost.

The simple fact, the end of native forest harvesting as proposed by the Statement of Principles will cost thousands of Tasmanian jobs and it must be abandoned.

Instead, the Government should adopt the Liberals’ balanced, 13-point plan, which will secure forest industry jobs while allowing for improved environmental outcomes. Return to Media Centre