Forest industry betrayed and workers stabbed in the back

Labor Leader Bryan Green today accused Resources Minister Paul Harriss of double-crossing the forest industry and stabbing workers in the back.

“Mr Harriss promised Forestry Tasmania workers job security and a growing industry but instead is sacking them by the dozen.

“The serious flow on effects are now being felt in regional communities.

“We are seeing contractors laying off workers because of Mr Harriss’ demolition of Forestry Tasmania.

“Smithton contractor Rodney Collins has had to let four workers go and park seven pieces of machinery.

“Forestry Tasmania will shed around 100 jobs as a direct result of the Liberal’s broken election promise to expand the industry.

“Twenty jobs in Smithton and Camdale, 15 in Scottsdale and Perth and eight in Geeveston have already been given their marching orders by Forestry Tasmania.

“Such is the ease with which the Government breaks promises that Paul Harriss unashamedly says that he makes no apologies for sacking workers.

“Will Hodgman and Paul Harriss looked forestry workers in the eye in the lead up to the election and assured them their jobs would be safe and the industry much better off under a Liberal Government.

“It is a far cry from the forestry utopia promised by the Liberals before the last election.

“History shows that Labor supported Forestry Tasmania and the industry as a whole through very difficult times.

“Tasmanians have been conned and people in the forest industry betrayed by Paul Harris.
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader