SAWMILLERS handed publicly funded exit packages will be allowed to keep at least half of the cash and stay in the industry.
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Resources Minister Paul Harriss yesterday announced that he had offered sawmillers given a slice of an $11.7 million Commonwealth-state payout program a way back in.
Contractors have backed Mr Harriss’ move, so long as those who refused payouts and remained in the industry are not disadvantaged.
Thirteen sawmill businesses opted to leave when the money was offered in 2013.
According to Department of State Growth figures, their payouts ranged from $90,000 to almost $1.8 million.
Mr Harriss has since written to all sawmillers who qualified for the payouts but have not yet walked away with the money and offered them a choice.
The businesses can now give back half the money and re-enter production free from restrictions.
Alternatively, sawmillers can keep 90 per cent of their payouts and have their production capped at 100 cubic metres of native forest logs per year.
At least half of the sawmillers have so far taken Mr Harriss up on his offer, though it is still unclear which option each selected.
The government has given other businesses until the end of this month to decide.
Mr Harriss told Parliament his plan would help rebuild the sector.
‘‘By retaining sawmilling capacity, we ensure we have the capacity to grow the industry,’’ he said.
Australian Forest Contractors Association director Ken Padgett offered the initiative qualified support.
‘‘I don’t have a problem with people forfeiting a percentage of their payout to re-enter the industry,’’ Mr Padgett said.
‘‘This is fair so long as the sawmillers that didn’t get anything and stuck with the industry are not disadvantaged.’’
Greens leader Kim Booth said the plan was a slap in the face to sawmillers who decided not to apply for exit packages.
‘‘Public money was paid to sawmillers to leave the industry because they were going broke and now the same people are receiving additional public money to stay in the industry,’’ Mr Booth said.
‘‘This is a slap in the face for those sawmillers who were financially viable and chose to stand on their own feet, now to find that their competitors are getting free public cash to compete with them.’’
