❓ Hon Paddy Embry asks about support for Manjimup workers facing job losses due to changes in the timber industry. Hon Kim Chance outlines plans for timber volume allocation, value-adding initiatives, and retraining/relocation programs funded by $123 million.
AnsweredQoN 889Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MANJIMUP AREA, JOB LOSS HELP
I understand the minister’s concern about the pessimism in the Manjimup area. However, what proposal does he have to help those who have lost or will lose their jobs to cover them for the four to five-year period he has suggested? Hon KIM CHANCE
I understand the minister’s concern about the pessimism in the Manjimup area. However, what proposal does he have to help those who have lost or will lose their jobs to cover them for the four to five-year period he has suggested? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question; I asked for it. I will resist the temptation to go through the whole policy. In using the phrase “four to five-year period”, I was talking about the intermediate future of the industry. On the specific question of Manjimup, early next year we will make an announcement on where the timber volumes will be placed; in other words, who will hold the effective contracts. Once that is done, it will clear the way for value-adding proponents - we are all aware of who they might be, but I do not want to discuss that here - to form alliances that will allow them to set up manufacturing operations in Manjimup. That will be a start, if only a small one, towards getting those new jobs up and running. Notwithstanding that statement, some of those 1 000 people will lose their jobs as a result of the actions that we have taken. That is why the retraining and relocation programs are included in the $123 million funding, to ease the pain of this. However, I said very clearly in the adjournment debate last night that the region can absorb this process. I understand the difficulties that it is causing. However, it is a process that was going to happen in any case. We may have brought that process forward four or five years. However, this process has been going on for a long time. At least now we are addressing a sustainable industry, and I think the final outcome will be very beneficial for the south west region.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for the question; I asked for it. I will resist the temptation to go through the whole policy. In using the phrase “four to five-year period”, I was talking about the intermediate future of the industry. On the specific question of Manjimup, early next year we will make an announcement on where the timber volumes will be placed; in other words, who will hold the effective contracts. Once that is done, it will clear the way for value-adding proponents - we are all aware of who they might be, but I do not want to discuss that here - to form alliances that will allow them to set up manufacturing operations in Manjimup. That will be a start, if only a small one, towards getting those new jobs up and running. Notwithstanding that statement, some of those 1 000 people will lose their jobs as a result of the actions that we have taken. That is why the retraining and relocation programs are included in the $123 million funding, to ease the pain of this. However, I said very clearly in the adjournment debate last night that the region can absorb this process. I understand the difficulties that it is causing. However, it is a process that was going to happen in any case. We may have brought that process forward four or five years. However, this process has been going on for a long time. At least now we are addressing a sustainable industry, and I think the final outcome will be very beneficial for the south west region.
I thank the member for the question; I asked for it. I will resist the temptation to go through the whole policy. In using the phrase “four to five-year period”, I was talking about the intermediate future of the industry. On the specific question of Manjimup, early next year we will make an announcement on where the timber volumes will be placed; in other words, who will hold the effective contracts. Once that is done, it will clear the way for value-adding proponents - we are all aware of who they might be, but I do not want to discuss that here - to form alliances that will allow them to set up manufacturing operations in Manjimup. That will be a start, if only a small one, towards getting those new jobs up and running. Notwithstanding that statement, some of those 1 000 people will lose their jobs as a result of the actions that we have taken. That is why the retraining and relocation programs are included in the $123 million funding, to ease the pain of this. However, I said very clearly in the adjournment debate last night that the region can absorb this process. I understand the difficulties that it is causing. However, it is a process that was going to happen in any case. We may have brought that process forward four or five years. However, this process has been going on for a long time. At least now we are addressing a sustainable industry, and I think the final outcome will be very beneficial for the south west region.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for the question; I asked for it. I will resist the temptation to go through the whole policy. In using the phrase “four to five-year period”, I was talking about the intermediate future of the industry. On the specific question of Manjimup, early next year we will make an announcement on where the timber volumes will be placed; in other words, who will hold the effective contracts. Once that is done, it will clear the way for value-adding proponents - we are all aware of who they might be, but I do not want to discuss that here - to form alliances that will allow them to set up manufacturing operations in Manjimup. That will be a start, if only a small one, towards getting those new jobs up and running. Notwithstanding that statement, some of those 1 000 people will lose their jobs as a result of the actions that we have taken. That is why the retraining and relocation programs are included in the $123 million funding, to ease the pain of this. However, I said very clearly in the adjournment debate last night that the region can absorb this process. I understand the difficulties that it is causing. However, it is a process that was going to happen in any case. We may have brought that process forward four or five years. However, this process has been going on for a long time. At least now we are addressing a sustainable industry, and I think the final outcome will be very beneficial for the south west region.
I thank the member for the question; I asked for it. I will resist the temptation to go through the whole policy. In using the phrase “four to five-year period”, I was talking about the intermediate future of the industry. On the specific question of Manjimup, early next year we will make an announcement on where the timber volumes will be placed; in other words, who will hold the effective contracts. Once that is done, it will clear the way for value-adding proponents - we are all aware of who they might be, but I do not want to discuss that here - to form alliances that will allow them to set up manufacturing operations in Manjimup. That will be a start, if only a small one, towards getting those new jobs up and running. Notwithstanding that statement, some of those 1 000 people will lose their jobs as a result of the actions that we have taken. That is why the retraining and relocation programs are included in the $123 million funding, to ease the pain of this. However, I said very clearly in the adjournment debate last night that the region can absorb this process. I understand the difficulties that it is causing. However, it is a process that was going to happen in any case. We may have brought that process forward four or five years. However, this process has been going on for a long time. At least now we are addressing a sustainable industry, and I think the final outcome will be very beneficial for the south west region.
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