Dear Editor,
Timber contractors have worked tirelessly to help our bushfire-affected communities to recover, but Daniel Andrews has still continued his war with them.
Nearly 100 workers were put out of a job this week when the Andrews Government cancelled contracts for timber coupes in East Gippsland.
It’s a slap in the face to people who put their lives on the line to clear fire breaks and access tracks for emergency services to battle this season’s catastrophic bushfires.
Timber contractors’ heavy machinery and unique knowledge of the high country landscape has also been critical through the recovery phase, particularly in clearing dangerous trees to make roads safe to reopen.
Daniel Andrews can’t claim to back bushfire-affected communities, only to rip out 100 jobs at a time when local people need them most.
Labor’s war against Victoria’s sustainable, responsible native timber industry has always been about politics, not people.
Daniel Andrews’ decision to axe jobs in bushfire-affected communities is a sickening new low and must urgently be reversed.
Peter Walsh
Leader of The Nationals
Shadow Minister for Agriculture
