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25th June, 2009
HALL CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF VICFORESTS
EASTERN Region MP Peter Hall has called on the Brumby
Government to establish an independent audit of
VicForests’ decision to tender out all harvest and
haulage contracts.
His call for action follows widespread industry
criticism of VicForests’ management of these contracts.
Mr Hall told parliament this week that it appeared
VicForests was “unable to deliver on the quantities of
timber put to tender and unable to provide timely advice
to contractors on monthly work plans”.
“Many of my constituents are concerned about lack of
supply to the timber industry and I know of sawmills in
East Gippsland
and other areas which have had to close due to this
issue,” Mr Hall said.
“Timber industry employers are highly stressed over the
current situation. Some have had to terminate the jobs
of valuable employees. Many are saying that when they
tendered for their jobs, and were successful, they
thought they would finally have some sort of security,
but this has been far from the case.”
Mr Hall said his plea to the Government to assess the
situation seemed to fall on deaf ears.
“Treasurer John Lenders, who is responsible for
VicForests, says his Government is achieving a “balance”
between preserving the forest heritage and protecting
jobs in regional towns,” Mr Hall said. “I fail to see
this balance when I continue to hear of job losses in
the timber industry and local workers and employers who
fear for their future due to the current management of
harvest and haulage contracts.”
While Mr Lenders admitted to the parliament that
VicForests was “slow in delivering wood in this
environment”, he blamed the recent bushfires for holding
up VicForests’ supply.
“I understand we’ve suffered a terrible natural
disaster,” Mr Hall said. “I agree salvage operations
undertaken by VicForests are important. But despite
these operations VicForests is still unable to deliver
on the quantities of timber out to tender.”
Mr Hall said it was evident the current contract process
was not working.
“Rather than turning a blind eye to this and making
excuses it’s about time the Brumby Government supported
jobs in regional communities, such as
East Gippsland,” Mr Hall said.
“If Mr Lenders is so confident in the operations of
VicForests I challenge him to establish an external
independent audit to find some real answers as to how
the new contract process is working.”
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