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West Australia's timber towns have been left ''stunned' by the speed at which the industry is shedding workers ahead of a looming ban on the widespread logging of native forests.
Key points:
- More than 20 jobs will be lost when Manjimup's timber processing centre closes this week
- It comes less than two weeks after Parkside Timber announced the closure of its mill in Nannup
- The WA government is set to ban native logging from next year
More than 20 workers at Parkside Timber's multi-million-dollar dry mill, which processes timber in Manjimup, are set to be out of work when it closes on Friday.
It comes two weeks after 45 workers lost their jobs when Parkside closed its mill in the nearby town of Nannup.
The ABC understands the Queensland company has made the decision that the mills are no longer viable as the state government moves to shut down the native timber industry by next year.
'Absolute disgrace'
The Shire of Manjimup had hoped Parkside would keep processing timber for another two years.
Shire President Paul Omodei says his heart goes out to the workers.
Mr Omodei, a former Liberal leader, took aim at the government for driving the decision.
"This is what happens when governments make political decisions about sustainable industry," he said.
"The timber industry is one of the original industries in the state.
"For the government to do what they've done, without a social and economic impact study, is an absolute disgrace."
Mr Omodei said the government needed to show greater commitment to creating jobs in Manjimup, the historical centre of timber logging in WA.
"If the government had any good intentions they would find an alternative industry to relocate to Manjimup and employ a hundred people," he said.
The ABC understands Parkside will continue to process a small amount of timber in Nannup.
Government support for mill workers
WA Forestry Minister Jackie Jarvis said there was on-the-ground support to workers in both Nannup and Manjimup to help mill workers with support payments and retraining.
"They are on the ground in these towns and will be for many weeks to come," she said.
She was hopeful those who had lost their jobs in Manjimup would be able to find work.
"We know that the shire president was, until a couple of years ago, berating the state government about workers shortages," Ms Jarvis said.
"They have a more diversified economy; they have a big agriculture sector.
"Those 20 or so workers who have lost jobs in Manjimup today — I would hope that the local economy can pick them up."
The state government has also offered support to timber companies.
Ms Jarvis said she hoped business would adapt and keep operating.
"No other timber mill has said they'll be stopping processing or stopping deliveries," she said.
"It's our hope that those timber mills, particularly those ones who are supplying Western Australian timber businesses, we would expect them to keep trading well into the future."
Government response 'inadequate'
But the Opposition called on Ms Jarvis to hasten the implementation of its $80-million transition plan to help affected workers, businesses and communities.
Opposition spokesperson for forestry Steve Martin said the government response was "inadequate and far too slow".
"The forestry industry is already shutting down and the transition package for workers and communities is lacking in detail and delivery," Mr Martin said.
"At a time when the industry is in desperate need of support to help transition workers and businesses away from hardwood harvesting, the McGowan Labor government clearly has no plan in place."