February 12, 2015
Paper manufactured in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley is now available for use in the photocopiers of the Department of Agriculture.
Minister for Agriculture and Nationals Deputy Leader, Barnaby Joyce, recently received his first load of Reflex paper reams made at Australian Paper in Maryvale, after a change in departmental procurement processes.
Mr Joyce asked the Department to consider Australian Paper as a supplier of copy paper, after touring Maryvale in July 2014 with Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
The Department of Agriculture was previously locked into a supply contract negotiated under the previous Labor government which precluded Australian made paper.
Mr Joyce said he was proud to now use Australian-made paper in his own offices.
“I’m a firm believer that all Australians – whether they be individual or businesses – should look to support Australian owned, made and produced wherever possible,” Mr Joyce said.
“I’m particularly glad that that my department now has access to paper made in the Latrobe Valley, as it is another vote of confidence in Gippsland jobs and the domestic timber industry.”
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Richard Colbeck, worked closely with the Department to have access to Australian manufactured paper, which will support Australian industries and local jobs.
“I urge Australian businesses to follow this expression of confidence in the sustainability of the Australian forestry industry and paper sector, and not be intimidated by false and misleading anti-forest industry campaigns,” he said.
“I have always used Australian paper in my electorate office and it is great to see the Department now able to make the same choice.”
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester lobbied Minister Joyce to ask his department to consider using Maryvale-made paper.
“This is a breakthrough in my ongoing efforts to get more Federal Government offices using locally-produced paper,” Mr Chester said.
“Australian Paper is the largest private employer in the Latrobe Valley and it is important we try to support our local businesses as much as possible.
“I’ve been a strong advocate of supporting jobs at the mill and will continue to pressure other departments to put local industry first.”
Mr Chester, who is Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, said the Department of Defence also uses Maryvale-made paper.
Caption: Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester gets Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce’s autograph on a piece of Reflex paper made in Maryvale. The Department of Agriculture is now able to access Reflex paper in all departmental offices.
