Bi-Partisan Agreement For Forest Contractor Support
The Minister for Energy and Resources, David Llewellyn, today said that under caretaker conventions, the State Government and State Opposition had agreed to provide a $600,000 support program for forest contractors.
Mr Llewellyn said both parties recognised the need to provide immediate assistance to forest contractors hardest hit by the current downturn in woodchip markets.
“We expect this allocation will be sufficient to meet the urgent interest requirements based on information and calculations supplied to us by the industry representatives at our meeting yesterday.
“Under the Forest Contractors Support Program, forest contractors will be able to apply for assistance to help them meet interest payments on existing loans for a period of three months.
“It is anticipated that the program, to be administered from the Department of Economic Development, will be operating by the end of next week, and that contractors will be able to contact the department then to apply for assistance.
“Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
“Both the State Government and Liberal Opposition recognise the issues currently facing some Tasmanian forest contractors, and I am pleased we have been able to agree to this position, which will help ease the financial burden on contractors and keep them working through this downturn.
“Yesterday I announced that a new Asian market has been found which will purchase 800,000 tonnes of Tasmanian woodchips. Arrangement for this new sale is nearing completion and it will be a few weeks before we see the woodchip boats returning to our shores.
“I thank Opposition spokesman Jeremy Rockliff for his support and commitment to this program, and we are both confident that it will help contractors who are currently doing it tough,” Mr Llewellyn said.
http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=29306
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