LABOR’S KOALA PARK ANNOUNCEMENT A MASSIVE KICK IN THE GUTS FOR REGIONAL JOBS: WILLIAMSON

Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson has slammed the Minns Labor Government’s announcement of the 476,000-hectare Great Koala National Park, describing it as “a massive kick in the guts” for regional communities across the Richmond and Clarence valleys and the wider North Coast region.

Mr Williamson said the announcement, made on Father’s Day while families were celebrating together, shows how tone-deaf the Government is to the impact this decision will have on forestry workers, their families and local communities.

“Across the North Coast around 5,500 people are employed in the forestry industry. This decision puts those livelihoods on the chopping block,” Mr Williamson said.

“From Monday, sustainable harvesting will end in the 176,000 hectare footprint — and that means real jobs in real communities will be lost overnight. While Chris Minns has looked after this own job, he has sold out thousands of regional jobs to do a deal with the Greens.”

Mr Williamson said the flow-on effects will cripple multiple sectors.

“The failure to meet wood supply agreements will impact everyday essentials — no timber means no paper, no power poles, no transport pallets, no wooden frames and nothing to build the homes we desperately need,” Mr Williamson said.

“The timber industry has been sustainably managed in NSW for over 150 years. Our State Forests are a thriving environment for koalas and native species. This decision isn’t about protecting koalas — it’s about city-centric politics.

“The protection of one of our national icons is obviously paramount, but sadly this announcement is not about the long-term protection of koalas. It is about a political deal with the Greens. 

Mr Williamson said the process has been disingenuous and cruel.

“The human element of this is not lost on me — real jobs in local communities will be lost,” he said.

“Forestry workers have been left completely let down by a Government that promised to consult and protect jobs. Instead, they’ve chosen politics over people and abandoned entire regional communities.”