NATIVE FOREST —
LOGGING — TRANSITION PACKAGE
15. Ms E.J. KELSBIE to the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts to tackle climate change, including the decision
to protect our native forests.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is supporting native forestry
workers transition towards the end of native forest logging in the south west?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on work underway to finalise the $50 million just
transition plan?
Mr D.J.
KELLY replied:
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question and the advocacy that she has engaged in on
behalf of her constituents on this issue.
Before I answer the question, I briefly
acknowledge the work that has been done by employees of the Forest Products
Commission and the Water Corporation on the fires we have seen in the wheatbelt
and the south west. In particular, Water Corporation staff ensured that water
supplies were maintained. Their work has been absolutely outstanding, and I want
to acknowledge the contribution they have made.
In
respect of our decision to stop native logging when the current forest
management plan finishes at the end of 2023, we have worked hard to ensure that
those affected workers will have a just transition to new opportunities. The
resource post-2023 will simply not be there because of the impacts of climate
change. We understand that that is difficult for a number of the employees in
that industry. We have worked hard to put together a package that gives those
workers a future. Last week, we announced that we have reached agreement with
the Australian Workers' Union on a package that will give new
opportunities to those staff. In particular, any worker who voluntarily leaves
an affected employer in the native logging industry will receive a $10 000
payment. They will also have access to other retraining programs. We know that
there are other job opportunities currently in the south west. If a worker
wants certainty and they want to accept another job in a new industry, they can
get a $10 000 payment to assist them in that transition.
Workers who are made redundant,
should any of the mills close, will receive a payment of $30 000 plus $1 000
for each year of service up to 15 years' service. They are substantial
payments that will enable those workers to move on to new opportunities. In
addition to those cash payments, there is a reskilling, retraining and new
employment support program, which includes up to $25 000 towards training at
TAFE or an approved provider and up to $500 to assist workers to seek other
employment; that might be through preparing resumes or accepting help through
the job matching service that we are putting in place. Up to $5 000 is
available to workers who need to purchase new personal protective equipment,
tools or work attire if they want to move out of the native forest industry.
That package is comprehensive.
As I said, we have reached agreement
with the Australian Workers' Union, which I thank for the way it has
dealt with this issue. Obviously, it was not happy with our original decision
to end native logging, which is perfectly within its rights. But having
expressed that view, it has sat down and constructively worked with us to get a
good deal for affected staff. I thank the AWU and its staff for the effort that
they have put in to help us put together
this package. This package applies to any worker who has left the industry
from 8 September 2021, so it applies to
people who have already decided to seek new opportunities. Those workers
can still seek some assistance.
In respect of the business package,
we put a proposal out to affected businesses and that package is still open for
public comment at the request of Forest Industries Federation WA until the end
of February. We urge those businesses to work constructively with us to put
together the final package as there is work to be done. We are currently
putting together a working group to formulate the broader community package and the package to attract new industries to the
south west. The worker package, the business package and the community
package will come together to finally make up the $50 million Just Transition
package.
We are working hard. I thank all the
public servants who have been involved to date, and I thank the AWU for its
contribution. I thank the local governments that have been working
constructively with us and I thank those businesses that have already
constructively participated to put those packages together.
The SPEAKER: The member for
Vasse with the last question.