Greens call for forest transition to plantations

The Victorian Greens today called for Labor and Liberal to join the Australian Greens in backing a new dialogue between the State's logging industry and conservation groups on how to complete the transition out of native forests and into plantations.

"Some of the key players involved in the historic Tasmanian logging agreement are also involved in the Victorian native forest logging industry—and they are ready to enter into a similar process," said Damian Magner, Greens candidate for Eastern Metropolitan.

“If we could give clear tripartisan support for the talks, it could be a matter of weeks or months before we can see the industry on a new path that completes the transition out of native forest logging and into jobs rich plantations.

“The Greens are committed to assisting affected workers with a targeted package of vocational training, relocation subsidies and generous redundancy payments to affected workers.”

“We must stop wood-chipping our native forests and start protecting them for the immense value they provide for climate, biodiversity and water,” said Samantha Dunn, Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria. "Our native forests should be protected and managed for these purposes, not squandered for woodchips."

“The people of Victoria don’t want to see our unique forests destroyed in this way, over 80% of Victorians are against wood-chipping. They want our beautiful forests conserved so that current and future generations can enjoy and value them.

“Every Green vote at the coming state election is a step closer to a win-win breakthrough on the logging issue, as the result in Tasmania clearly demonstrated."

“The transition in Western Victoria has been a resounding success," said Marcus Ward, Greens candidate for Western Victoria.

"In the Otways and the southwest, plantation logging is booming, employment is growing and the old conflicts are in the past. Plantation workers are being sourced from overseas. Across the state, the wood products industry continues to innovate and thrive with 85% of wood for building and processing now coming from plantations.

“Ending native forest logging east of the Hume will greatly reduce Victoria's carbon footprint, equivalent to removing 2.4 million cars from the state's roads as well as releasing an extra 60 gigalitres per annum of water into our domestic water supply. That's more than enough to supply the cities of Ballarat and Bendigo,” said Mr Ward.

“An historic window of opportunity has opened thanks to our Tasmanian neighbours. It's time to put the conflict of the past behind us and help Victoria's loggers secure a competitive, profitable future in plantation logging.”


Further information:

Samantha Dunn 0429 29 29 04 or samantha.dunn@vic.greens.org.au

Damian Magner 0402 687 472 or damian.magner@vic.greens.org.au

Marcus Ward 0427 235 254 or marcus.ward@vic.greens.org.au