The State Government has made changes to its Victorian Forestry Plan to support the industry and improve workers’ transitioning out of native logging.
The Government announced more than $100 million for workers, communities and businesses impacted by the 2024 step-down from native timber harvesting, which will include opt out packages and increased redundancy payments.
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said the plan was created to transition the native forest industry to new opportunities by 2030.
“The timber industry is changing – this is why we have a substantial financial package ready to support workers and communities, as we move to a new timber future based around plantations,” she said.
The enhanced Victorian Forestry Plan supports include the expansion of the Victorian Timber Innovation Fund and the Forestry Business Transition Vouchers program by $20 million.
In addition, $14 million will be provided to implement new environmental measures. This includes a new coupe regeneration plan, which will increase confidence that regeneration requirements are met before coupes are taken off the Timber Release Plan.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said, “These changes will deliver new ways to protect our precious wildlife while supporting the transition of our native forests from timber harvesting by 2030.”
The union representing timber workers, CFMEU Manufacturing, has welcomed the changes and said it’s a significant improvement.
“Along with increased funding for relocation assistance, it will make a real difference to timber workers, their families and communities,” CFMEU Manufacturing Division National Secretary, Michael O’Connor, said.
“Our members, their families and communities have stood up and fought every step of the way for fairer treatment. While the fight for jobs in the industry continues, we now have a significantly better deal for impacted workers.”
The State Government said recent legal challenges to timber harvesting have highlighted the need for new mechanisms to ensure the timber industry can meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for Timber Production.
Legislation to be introduced early next year will include standards that set out how the industry can meet its obligations to a section of the Code called the precautionary principle.
The changes will provide the industry with greater certainty about how the precautionary principle should be implemented.
The Conservation Regulator will also be strengthened with new infringement powers for anyone breaching the Code of Practice – bringing its disciplinary powers in line with other regulators in Victoria.
This builds on the additional powers provided to the regulator in the new Forests Legislation Amendment (Compliance and Enforcement) Act 2021.
VicForests will continue to deliver on the Government’s timber commitments under the Plan, concentrating on contracting, harvesting and regeneration.
The union said it still remains opposed to significant aspects of the plan and has raised serious problems with the package, which previously capped government payments for workers made redundant due to the government shutting down the industry to just $23,000.
The revised package will see the Government pay a top up to any statutory redundancy payments payable by employers to 4 weeks (up from 3 weeks) for every year of skills investment in the industry, so they receive up to $120,000 (up from a $23,000 maximum government contribution).
This is more consistent with previous forestry industry adjustment packages, such as the 2003 Victorian Government Our Forests Our Future assistance, and the assistance provided to Tasmanian workers in 2013 by the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments.
“We thank the Government and particularly Minister Mary-Anne Thomas for listening to our members’ concerns and advocating within the Government for an improved deal for workers,” Mr O’Connor said.
