The Greens amendments to the Bill to establish the Albanese government’s National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) is a shameful victory for politics over sensible policy, says Australian Forest Products Association CEO Joel Fitzgibbon according to a media statement.
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) is the peak national industry body for the resources, processing, pulp, paper, and bioproduct industries, encompassing the entire forest products value chain.
Mr Fitzgibbon continues:
“Australian industry and Australian jobs should never be used as a senate bargaining chip.”
“It’s a slippery slope that can only end in tears for our economy.”
Joel Fitzgibbon, CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association
According to Mr. Fitzgibbon, it is time to confront the Greens:
“Were they really going to follow the Opposition’s lead by voting against a $15 billion plan to revive Australia’s manufacturing sector and sovereign capability?
“The sustainable, selective, responsible, sophisticated, and lawful harvesting of our native forests is crucial to our economy and jobs.
“The industry supplies the world’s most sustainably sourced native hardwood to our manufacturing sector, which in turn delivers the carbon-storing products businesses and households rely upon every day.”
AFPA welcomes the Albanese government’s assurance that the Australian firms which add value to our native forest product in mills and manufacturing plants around the country remain eligible for NRF support.
During the 2019 election campaign the now Prime Minister wrote:
“I promise you that if I become Prime Minister, a government I lead will not shut down the native forest industry”.
Anthony Albanese in May 2019.
“The forest and forest product sectors appreciate the Albanese government’s ongoing support for our industry, support not altered by the hollow Greens stunt,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“It has been made clearer that the Greens are not genuine supporters of the manufacturing sector and the jobs it creates.”
- Extracts from a media statement provided by the Australian Forest Products Association.
