3 years ago
FORESTRY INDUSTRY NEEDS MORE SUPPORT, NOT JUST EMPTY ANNOUNCEMENTS
JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
Labor has warned the forestry industry to be cautious about the Government’s announcement today that it is removing the so called ‘water rule’.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon said if the Liberal-National third-term Coalition Government was serious about assisting the Forestry Industry in achieving its goal of planting more than 1 billion trees, it would have removed the ‘water rule’ in full years ago.
“During the 2019 election, Labor committed to removing the ‘water rule’ in full, which was met with fierce opposition from the Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, who said at the time that the removal of the ‘water rule’ was “reckless”.”
Mr Fitzgibbon said the current announcement by the Prime Minister requires the Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to specify in writing which regions will be excluded from the ‘water rule’.
Indeed, this is the same Minister that is opposed to the removal of the ‘water rule’ and has not actually committed to removing the ‘water rule’, or even apologised for his ill-informed “reckless’ comment.
The announcement today is another example of spin over substance and lacks real support for the Forestry Industry.
“The promised forestry specific concessional loans announced during the 2019 election don’t exist,” said Mr Fitzgibbon. “The promised $40 million Forestry Recovery Development fund, announced in Eden over a week ago to assist with the recovery of the Black Summer bushfires, cannot be accessed. Indeed, the Department of Agriculture’s website does not even have information available about the eligibility criteria or how the program will be administered.”
Voters in Eden-Monaro won’t be fooled by flashy announcements. It has been over five months since the Black Summer bushfires, it should not have taken a by-election for the Prime Minister to pretend he cares.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon said if the Liberal-National third-term Coalition Government was serious about assisting the Forestry Industry in achieving its goal of planting more than 1 billion trees, it would have removed the ‘water rule’ in full years ago.
“During the 2019 election, Labor committed to removing the ‘water rule’ in full, which was met with fierce opposition from the Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, who said at the time that the removal of the ‘water rule’ was “reckless”.”
Mr Fitzgibbon said the current announcement by the Prime Minister requires the Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to specify in writing which regions will be excluded from the ‘water rule’.
Indeed, this is the same Minister that is opposed to the removal of the ‘water rule’ and has not actually committed to removing the ‘water rule’, or even apologised for his ill-informed “reckless’ comment.
The announcement today is another example of spin over substance and lacks real support for the Forestry Industry.
“The promised forestry specific concessional loans announced during the 2019 election don’t exist,” said Mr Fitzgibbon. “The promised $40 million Forestry Recovery Development fund, announced in Eden over a week ago to assist with the recovery of the Black Summer bushfires, cannot be accessed. Indeed, the Department of Agriculture’s website does not even have information available about the eligibility criteria or how the program will be administered.”
Voters in Eden-Monaro won’t be fooled by flashy announcements. It has been over five months since the Black Summer bushfires, it should not have taken a by-election for the Prime Minister to pretend he cares.