Forest contractors continue to suffer, and leave the industry
Flow on affects hit regional Tasmanian communities
State Labor does nothing to help
The State Labor Government has continued to sit on its hands while the livelihoods of forest contractors are threatened.
The State Opposition today highlighted the plight of forest contractors in a Matter of Public Interest debate in State Parliament.
The Government must respond to industry calls for a restructure package of some sort that includes assistance to leave the industry and low-interest loans to help contractors through what is a crisis.
Access to credit is increasingly difficult and contractors are withdrawing because they simply cannot afford to replace or re-finance their vehicles and equipment.
There are serious occupational health and safety risks associated with the diminished ability of forest contractors to afford the required maintenance schedules on equipment, including trucks.
As just one example, after a recent random safety check of 12 trucks, nine had serious problems with worn straps, defective chains that were securing the loads, and logs piled too high. A contributing cause of this is because the contractors are on their financial knees.
The State Government needs to show leadership on this very important public policy issue.
A number of forest contractors are comparing how they are being treated to that of how the dairy farmers are being treated by National Foods and other dairy companies.
I have continually called for the State Government to bring in laws such as Victoria has done. That State’s Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act provides a good legislative framework to better protect this part of the industry.
The Resources Minister has finally agreed to a review to progress this but we need a clear timeline for completion.
State Labor shows no leadership on an important issue which is severely affecting regional Tasmania.
Jeremy Rockliff MP Shadow Minister for Resources
