Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since we last sat in this chamber, New South Wales Labor have gutted another regional industry. The industry they gutted this time—and that they've all but wiped out—is the forestry industry. Thousands of jobs have been lost. Timber mill workers have lost their jobs—forestry workers, people who drive trucks, haulage workers who are supported by that industry. Again Labor is selling out blue-collar jobs for Greens preferences.

The worst thing about the thousands of people who are going to lose their jobs is that they were announced on Father's Day. On Father's Day, thousands of men found out they were going to lose their jobs. This is a sustainable and renewable industry. And do you know what? Now we will be importing hardwood from countries who do not do it in the sustainable and environmentally friendly way we do.

The other thing that happens is that where they lock this up will now become weed infested, become feral-animal infested, become a tinderbox and make our communities more dangerous. In fact, koalas leave as well because it becomes too weed infested. The elite city MPs over there have demonised our forestry industry. They've demonised our farmers for the water they want for growing food and fibre. They've demonised our sheep farmers for live exports. They've demonised our coal miners and our gas industry workers. Their hypocrisy and sanctimony is very obvious over there. (Time expired)