84 Jobs Cut at Maryvale Paper Mill: Government Blamed for Timber Crisis

Opal Australian Paper has announced the loss of 84 jobs at its Maryvale paper mill in Victoria's Latrobe Valley, blaming the Victorian government for failing to secure timber supply. The mill, once Australia's last white paper manufacturer, has been struggling since ceasing white paper production in early 2023, which already led to 156 job cuts.

The company stated the latest redundancies follow a "detailed review of operations" aimed at "right-sizing" the mill as a kraft and recycled paper manufacturer. Opal claims it suffered "substantial losses due to the Victorian Government's failure to meet its contractual obligations under the Wood Pulp Agreement."

The Maryvale mill is a major employer in the Latrobe Valley, a region with historically high unemployment since the privatization of the coal-fired power industry in the 1990s. The closure of the Hazelwood power station in 2017 had already cost 900 jobs.

Proposed cuts will affect both salaried and enterprise agreement-covered team members, including previously announced roles still in consultation, unfilled positions after voluntary departures, and voluntary redundancies. The ABC has sought comment from the Victorian government.