Wednesday, 31 May 2023

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:04): (224) My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. Labor’s January 2024 closure of the native timber industry is an indictment. Your so-called transition package for those affected by this closure will not come anywhere near close to supporting people. My constituent Sai Madarapu and his wife recently invested their life savings when they purchased the Orbost IGA supermarket for the eye-watering sum of $780,000 on the proviso that the industry would be there until 2030. They had seven years to recoup their investment. You have just ripped a vital industry out of this town. Sai is gutted because he could be forced to go bust even before his business opens. What financial supports will be available to retailers in Orbost to keep them afloat?

Sitting suspended 1:05 pm until 2:06 pm.