The State Government’s timber transition plan has been exposed as a sham after it was confirmed just 4,000 of a promised 30 million trees have been planted.
Under questioning in a Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearing last week, it was uncovered that just 0.013 per cent of trees promised under the Gippsland Plantation Investment Program (GPIP) have been planted.
At the current rate of 2,000 trees per year, it will take 15,000 years to reach the 30 million target.
“It has been six years since the GPIP was announced as a way to expand the state’s timber supply, but the State Government has failed dismally to deliver on its own promise,” The Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, said.
“The GPIP – which was welcomed by the industry and region more broadly – became even more important when Labor disastrously decided to shut down the native timber industry, but it has sat on its hands for six years.
“The lack of planting and forward planning on Labor’s part is alarming and another snub for the hardworking people of Gippsland.
“The native hardwood sector should never have been shut down, but Labor has even failed when it comes to a replacement plantation sector.
“Premier Jacinta Allan can’t manage money, can’t manage major projects, and can’t secure the future of major industry in regional Victoria.”
