A delegation of CFMEU pulp and paper workers from Tasmania, Melbourne, Gippsland, Shoalhaven and Millicent will travel to Parliament House today to brief their local MPs on challenges to their job security.
Alex Millar, National Secretary of the CFMEU’s Pulp and Paper Worker’s District, is leading the delegation in asking local MPs to sign a pledge to buy Australian made paper and paper products for their offices and personal use.
“Australian manufacturing is put under threat every day by the extensive use of imported paper by Governments, their agencies and businesses” Millar said.
Workers will ask the MPs to lobby for changes to Government policy including committing the Australian Government, its agencies and businesses to buy more Australian Made paper and use less imported paper and ensuring overseas suppliers adhere to the same standards required of local businesses and workers.
In addition, the delegation wants government to prevent dumped paper products from being imported from overseas and preventing misuse of market power by major retailers and office suppliers.
Darren Chester, MP for Gippsland recently introduced a petition into the House of Representatives containing signatures collected by CFMEU members working in the pulp and paper industry.
The petition called on the Government to not buy imports instead of locally made paper unless it can be justified on social, economic and environmental grounds.
The CFMEU sent a delegation with a similar set of requests to Canberra at this time last year.