CFMEU Forestry and Furnishing Productions Division NSW State Secretary Craig Smith has accused the State Government of being “penny wise pound foolish” in moving to axe the jobs.

Mr Smith said that Forestry NSW had oversight responsibilities it was neglecting in pushing through the redundancies.

“The unions view is that the work of these people managing harvest plans, boundary making, tree marking and ensuring flora fauna and cultural heritage protection cannot effectively be outsourced to the harvesting contractors,” he said.

“The harvesters are not employees of Forestry NSW and are not funded, resourced or trained to do this work.

“Self regulation will not work, the transparent and efficient management of native forests will be compromised and the natural environment will suffer.”

Mr Smith said over 20 jobs in the Eden area were on the line.

“NSW forests are a publicly owned asset which should be managed by NSW Government employed workers on behalf of the people of NSW,” he said.

Mr Smith said the job loses had “grave implications” for the supply side of the local timber industry and that local saw mills and allied industry should join the Union in lobbying the NSW Government to reverse the decision.