More forestry job losses to come: Hodgman

Gunns' announcement that it will slash 150 woodchip mill jobs in northern Tasmania
is a taste of things to come, the state opposition says.
The timber company announced the closure of some of its pulp mills in a statement on
Wednesday evening, resulting in the loss of 150 jobs.
Gunns chief executive Greg L'Estrange did not indicate which of the mills at
Triabunna, Bell Bay and Hampshire will close, but said all faced restructuring.
The forestry sector has been in turmoil in Tasmania, with a series of woodchip and
paper mill closures throughout the year.
Earlier this week, the federal government announced it would make $22.4 million
available to forestry contractors and businesses, with the bulk of the funding
earmarked to assist them to leave the industry.
In an effort to restructure the sector, environmentalists, unions and industry
groups agreed to a statement of principles that would see the end of native forestry
logging in return for a plantation-fed pulp mill.
Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said the job losses would continue if the statement
were followed.
"Unfortunately, if the Labor-Green government have their way and close down our
native forest sector as proposed under the statement of principles, these 150 job
losses will be but the start of thousands more," he said on Wednesday.
"These job losses ... are yet more reason for the government to show some
leadership, act decisively and secure the future of our sustainable native forest
sector."
Comment has been sought from Premier David Bartlett.