Reflex rebellion

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
THE State Government says a deal to relocate VicForests’ head office to the Yarra Ranges, along with a possible 45 new jobs, has been taken “off the table” until Yarra Ranges Council reneges on its “so-called ethical paper pledge”.
The council move to boycott the Reflex brand paper and teach Australian Paper to switch to 100 per cent plantation paper, as The Mail reported on 3 May, seems to have backfired as it puts local job interests in jeopardy.
But YRC mayor Terry Avery said he was disappointed the State Government had chosen to establish a direct link between the two unrelated issues.
The council adopted the motion to boycott Reflex brand paper, and make a public statement of support for The Wilderness Society’s online pledge to cease logging in Victoria’s native forests and water catchments during the Wednesday 27 April council meeting.
Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh, in a letter seen by The Mail, wrote to Yarra Ranges Council CEO Glenn Patterson on 10 May to inform him “the proposal to relocate VicForests corporate office to Yarra Ranges is off the table for so long as council maintains the pledge as its policy”.
Mr Walsh said the move could have increased local VicForests employment from 35 up to 80 staff and provided significant economic and social benefits to the community.
“In my view, council has been hypocritical in seeking to attract VicForests while actively campaigning against a product which forms part of its core business,” Mr Walsh said adding that the move to increase local VicForests employment was under active consideration.
Mr Walsh said Australian Paper was an important client of VicForests and a valued Victorian business that provided real employment and produced a sustainable, locally-made and high quality product.
Mr Walsh said the council’s campaign had the potential to affect individuals and businesses that operated within the shire and rely on the timber industry.
“To say nothing of the 3000 jobs that are directly generated as a result of the industry’s activities, primarily in Eastern Victoria,” he said.
Mayor Terry Avery said the council purchases 100 per cent of its paper from Australian Paper’s “Australian” product line on its environmental credentials and alignment with the pledge.
“We feel strongly that the pledge is an accurate reflection of our commitment to sustainability, protection of the environment, corporate social responsibility and local community needs as outlined in the procurement policy,” he said.
Cr Avery said the council was supportive “in principle” of the proposal to relocate VicForests headquarters to the Yarra Ranges to expand local employment, promote working closer to home and stimulate the local economy in bushfire-affected areas.
“We are disappointed that Minister Walsh has chosen to establish a direct link between the two unrelated issues,” he said.
The council is not united in the pledge though, with O’Shannassy Ward councillor Chris Templer asking other councillors to reconsider their support of the pledge.
“Council has made a mistake in supporting a boycott pledge put forward by Councillor Dunn against Reflex paper,” he said.
“This boycott campaign is based on an ideological opinion, which is fine for the Wilderness Society or the Greens party, but not for elected councillors to sign our shire up to.
“In this case, I feel our council chamber has been manipulated to attack a company, its work practices and the timber industry behind it.”