The NSW Nationals say the Minns Labor Government has failed to protect North Coast workers and industries affected by the creation of the Great Koala National Park.
The new park, covering about 176,000 hectares across the Mid North Coast between Kempsey and Coffs Harbour, has prompted a moratorium on timber harvesting that the Opposition says will directly impact up to 5500 regional jobs.
NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said the government’s $5 million support package for affected businesses falls far short of what is needed.
“A cap of $5 million to mitigate the flow-on effects of this cruel decision is a drop in the ocean when you consider some of these businesses are being obliterated and will continue to be impacted for years to come,” Mr Saunders said.
“The feeling on the ground is once again that people have been completely let down and their lives and livelihoods are hanging in the balance.”
Shadow Minister for the North Coast Gurmesh Singh said the decision would hit families and small towns already struggling with the cost of living.
“This is hardly an inspirational announcement from the Government when the stop-work orders will mean hundreds of families will struggle to put food on the table,” Mr Singh said.
Member for Clarence Richie Williamson said communities across the Clarence and Coffs Coast were facing the loss of long-standing local industries.
“The Minns Labor Government made an election promise to deliver the Great Koala National Park while protecting timber workers at the same time, but that was a straight-out lie,” Mr Williamson said.
“While Chris Minns and Penny Sharpe have looked after their own jobs, they have left my region completely gutted, delivering a fatal swipe to businesses and entire regional towns that rely heavily on our world-class timber.”
Member for Oxley Michael Kemp said the impacts would reach well beyond the timber sector.
“The koala park will wipe out 40 per cent of the state’s future hardwood supply, forcing the price of construction materials through the roof and further exacerbating the housing crisis,” Mr Kemp said.
Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson said there were also concerns about how quickly help would reach affected workers and businesses.
“The Rural Assistance Authority has had its capacity massively reduced, which has already had an impact when it comes to getting money out the door, as we’ve seen with the recent floods,” Mrs Thompson said.
“These are real people who have already gone through months of angst and uncertainty, and they can’t afford to wait any longer to get the help they so desperately need.”
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