AGRICULTURE and Food Minister Terry Redman has deserted his home base by slashing 28 Forest Product Commission (FPC) jobs in his own electorate according to Shadow Agriculture Minister Mick Murray.

“Not only is Mr Redman slashing jobs in his own electorate, he has failed to release the report that justifies his actions,” Mr Murray said.

The minister had commissioned a taskforce in January to examine the financial viability of FPC operations but the report had been shrouded in secrecy.

“The taskforce was due to report back within two months but Western Australians are still waiting to see any evidence of what it found,” said.

“It is a taxpayer-funded report and Western Australians deserve to know what is in it.

“We are talking about real people, real jobs and the livelihoods of small towns. If there is a commercial finding that the FPC is not viable, why is the minister hiding the evidence?”

Mr Murray said Mr Redman had disappointed the people who voted for him because he promised to improve infrastructure and services in Blackwood-Stirling.

Mr Redman said the FPC redundancies were regrettable and he was very conscious of the impact on FPC staff and their families.

“However, I am firm in the view this restructure is necessary to return the FPC to a sound financial position and ensure it continues to play an integral role in a viable and sustainable forestry industry in WA,” he said.

The taskforce report Mr Murray referred to was a cabinet document and therefore subject to cabinet confidentiality, he said.