Otways- Regional News - November 2005
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Timber mill workers rally over compo -17 November 2005. 13:03 (AEDT) ABC Radio - Otways - November 2005
Thursday, 17 November 2005. 13:03 (AEDT) ABC Radio
Workers at the last remaining timber mill in the Otways, in south-west Victoria, will rally outside parliamentary sittings in Geelong and Colac today.
The workers from the Murnane mill are angry the State Government has not committed to providing them with compensation, after logging stops in the Otways in 2008.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union says regional communities will suffer when the workers lose their jobs.
Jane Calvert from the union's forestry division says timber contractors and workers will assemble with log trucks for the rallies.
"We intend to be at both of those places to remind the political decision-makers of our state that there are some forgotten families out in the forest that do need some assistance and some taking care of in this process," she said.
The Otways Ranges Environment Network's Simon Birrell says timber mill workers' attention should be towards their employer and not the Government.
He says it is up to Murnane to pull out of the Otways forest to secure a compensation payout for workers.
"It was always on the cards that his licence would expire in 2008 and wouldn't be renewed," he said.
"He had an option back in 2002, Marnane sawmill, to take a package and get out early and that is still on the table, but if they continue to log to 2008, the Government won't be able to pay them anything."