The Liberal Government’s attack on regional jobs makes absolutely no sense and amounts to a huge broken promise.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Bacon said at a time when the unemployment rate has ballooned out to 6.9%, the Liberals have decided to cut jobs at Forestry Tasmania.
“Slashing these vital jobs in regional Tasmania is a massive breach of trust,” Mr Bacon said.
“The Liberals promised forest workers their jobs would be protected and Forestry Tasmania would trade its way out of trouble.
Peter Gutwein said in a press release on October 17 2013: “a majority Liberal Government will grow the forest industry and provide resource security, which will allow Forest (sic) Tasmania to operate with certainty and profitability.”
On September 24 2012 Mr Gutwein said: “The Liberals will move a motion in Parliament this week calling on the government to commit to Forestry Tasmania retaining control over production forests and their land.”
And on May 23 2012 Mr Gutwein said: “…we will grow the industry, not shut it down and we believe very strongly there is a future for Forestry Tasmania as a manager of our forests and a supplier of renewable, sustainable forest products.”
The Liberals’ actions since coming to government make a joke of the comments highlighted above.
Mr Bacon said the jobs going in the North West and other regional areas are vitally important.
“We are talking about workers who protect Tasmania from the threat of fire,” Mr Bacon said.
“These are exactly the sort of jobs that should be retained.”
Scott Bacon MP Shadow Treasurer
