Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Minister for Forestry

Wednesday 28th September, 2011

Majority of forestry workers to get no compensation

Minister Green today confirmed that forestry workers who lost their jobs before the IGA was signed on August 7th this year won’t get one cent of compensation.

Based on CRC for Forestry estimates that means potentially 1600 forest workers will be left out in the cold.

This is in sharp contrast to Gunns who the Government has happily paid $23 million for voluntarily exiting native forest harvesting.

The Green-Labor Government has hoodwinked forestry workers who were led to believe they would receive compensation as part of a workers’ assistance package contained within the IGA.

The only certainty provided by this whole disastrous process has been a $23 million pay day for Gunns at the expense of the industry.

The Liberals have a balanced 13 point plan that would grow our forest industry, keep regional communities alive and still provide for better environment outcomes.

Again we call on the Premier to rip up this disastrous deal and work with us to grow the forestry industry, or call an election and let Tasmanians decide.