The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has lashed the Carroll Labor Government for its part in the latest round of job losses in the Latrobe Valley.
Opal has announced 84 jobs will be axed at the Maryvale paper mill as a direct result of Labor’s failure to meet its contractual obligation to supply timber.
“The non-sensical closure of the native timber industry has been disastrous for the Latrobe Valley workforce,” Mr Cameron said.
“In 2019, former premier Daniel Andrews guaranteed 1,000 workers at the mill their livelihoods were secured until 2050, but that was a lie.
“Labor pulled the rug out from underneath the mill workers when he went back on his word and shut the industry six years ahead of schedule.
“This move had an enormous impact on the mill’s operations and has placed Opal under unsustainable financial pressure.”
Nearly 200 jobs were cut when the Maryvale mill ceased production of white paper in 2023, and another 40 were lost in 2024.
“Now we are losing another 84 jobs – and it was avoidable. Labor killed off a sustainable industry for political expediency,” Mr Cameron said.
“I have requested a briefing with Opal to understand the finer details of this decision and discuss supports available for workers, but one thing is clear – Latrobe Valley families continue to pay the price for Labor’s disastrous forestry policy.”
Premier Ben Carroll served as the Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty when the white paper mill shut in 2023.
Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath, said the Premier was liable for the trail of destruction left across the Latrobe Valley.
“Ben Carroll sat idly as 200 jobs were lost at Maryvale, he failed to provide support for retrenched workers and backed in the forestry policy that caused this mess,” Ms Bath said.
“The Premier is culpable for bringing this industry to its knees and he is responsible for the latest round of job losses in the Valley.
“The leader may have changed, but it’s still the same old tired and corrupt Labor Government presiding over the destruction of regional Victoria.”
Caption: The Nationals have lashed the Carroll Labor Government for its part in the latest round of job losses in the Latrobe Valley.
