Question details
Eastern Victoria Region
(852) My constituency question is to the Minister for Agriculture. I ask the minister: will she provide fair compensation to my constituents Jeff and Kristy Coster? Jeff and Kristy have worked in the native timber industry for 30 years. They do not hold a VicForest contract licence. They work for a VicForest contractor. In the negotiations with the Allan government they accepted a payout and had put into their bank account 20 cents as a pathway for the remaining $197,000. That was in February. That payment has not gone through, and the government is saying that there is an argy-bargy with the Australian Taxation Office. My constituents – and they are not alone in this fight – are bereft and beside themselves. I call on the minister to find a pathway so that these people, who have been displaced by the government, actually get fair compensation.
I thank the member for her question regarding support payments to native timber workers and businesses.
The transition out of native timber harvesting has been challenging for workers, businesses, and communities. More than $1.5 billion in funding is supporting the forestry industry, forestry management and businesses, workers and communities affected by the forestry transition.
While the Government is unable to comment on individual worker payments, it is important to note that whether a business chooses to continue operating or to close, there are a range of support and transition packages available to assist them.
Workers and businesses preparing to make redundancy decisions should assess whether the reason for redundancy meets the criteria of a 'Genuine Redundancy' as defined by the Fair Work Act. Workers who have been made genuinely redundant can access Government (Redundancy) top-up payments, funded training, and employment services to help them transition to new employment. Government (Redundancy) top-up payments must comply with the requirements of the Fair Work Act and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). In some instances, this may require contractors to surrender their ABN.
The Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action is assisting business owners in understanding the requirements of both the Fair Work Act and the ATO. Once these requirements are satisfied, applicants can expect to receive payments swiftly. The Department is also continuing longstanding discussions with the ATO to see how these requirements can be streamlined.
Native timber businesses who wish to continue and diversify their business operations can access transition funding, such as the Victorian Transition Innovation Fund, to support their continued operation and transition. Round three of this Fund, which offers grants of up to $1 million, is now open for applications and is available to businesses like Mr. Coster's. The first $250,000 of the VTIF grant does not require a co-contribution.
The Hon. Ros Spence MP
Minister for Agriculture
13/6/24