A Current Affair: Hundreds of Aussie jobs on the line at Victoria's Maryvale Paper Mill

Up to 200 jobs are feared to be on the line at Australia's last white paper manufacturer.

Thirty-seven workers are already in the dark about their futures after being stood down indefinitely from Victoria's Maryvale Paper Mill, with unions fearing that number will grow.

The mill, operated by Opal Australian Paper, ceased production of white paper on December 23 after continuous issues with sourcing the timber needed to produce it.

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While the 37 workers have been stood down on full pay, they say they just want their jobs back.

"I saw this as my career. I would have stayed here until I retired," Jeremy Holt told A Current Affair.

He'd worked just three shifts at the mill before learning of the shutdown.

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"With me being probably one of the last ones in, I'll be one of the first ones out, sadly," Holt said.

The timber shortage is being blamed on a Supreme Court ruling against VicForests late last year, which found they had failed to adequately protect endangered wildlife, forcing the state-owned timber logging agency to scale back its operations.

With Opal Australian Paper claiming they "have been unable to identify viable alternative sources of wood", it's understood further jobs at the paper mill could be at risk.

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"Just doesn't seem like they're fighting to keep production going, like we are for our jobs," worker Justin Flenley said.

He claimed he was left in the lurch after 12 years working at the mill.

"There's a lot of guys that just don't know where their future lies," Flenley said.

"Do they start looking for jobs now? Do they still hold a job?"

The union expects 120 staff, contractors and trades could be out of a job by the end of January, with a further hundred on the chopping block.

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The mill employs 850 workers and will continue to produce brown paper and other paper products at the facility.

The CFMEU claimed not enough research had been done by Opal Australian Paper to find viable alternative timber to protect jobs on the white paper line.

"The company will run the argument that it's not commercially viable, but the timber supply was legislation and the government should have been delivering it to us, to the doorstep," CFMEU manufacturing division organiser for Maryvale paper mill Anthony Pavey said.

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The Victoria government told A Current Affair that they are "seeking options to address timber supply" and that they "have reached agreement with Opal to ensure any stood down workers receive full pay and entitlements without needing to access leave".

Pavey believes once white paper production ceases in Australia all of it will be imported from overseas.

"For the nation it means we import all white paper, so all copy paper for businesses, prescriptions, receipt books, all your exercise books for your school kids, specialty print posters - everything will have to be imported," he said.

We have reached agreement with Opal to ensure any stood-down workers receive full pay and entitlements without needing to access leave.

We acknowledge this is a challenging time for workers and their families - and we're seeking options to address timber supply.

Discussions are ongoing with Opal on options to further support the mill's long-term operations.

4 January 2023

• Opal Australian Paper has been working to address the current shortfall in VicForests supply.

• To be viable the alternative supplies must match a range of strict criteria including species, availability, volume, cost, logistics and long-term supply.

• To date we have been unable to identify viable alternative sources of wood and as a result, white paper production on the M5 machine at Maryvale was impacted from 23 December.

• This equipment stoppage has led to direct production workers engaged on M5 to be stood down on a temporary basis from the first of January 2023. Opal is continuing to closely consult with our team members and expects that up to 35 individuals may be impacted.

• No decisions around further stand downs have been made at this stage.

• Opal is also engaging in active discussions with the Victorian Government and union representatives about this situation. We have reached an agreement with the Victorian Government ensuring that until mid-February workers who may be stood down will receive full pay including entitlements and will not need to access leave balances.

• This is intended to provide certainty for Opal team members while the company and the Victorian Government conclude discussions on any further support for the Mill's future operations.

• In addition to Opal's own Employee Assistance Program and other support services, a new Worker Support Service has been established by the Government to support Opal Australian Paper team members affected by potential stand downs and operational changes that may be required as a consequence of a possible future scaling down of white side manufacturing, one scenario currently being considered.

• Opal continues to consider a number of different operational scenarios in the longer term, in case possible alternative wood sources are below the volumes required or are not commercially feasible.

• This is a complex situation and no longer-term decisions on operational changes have been made at this stage.

• While the current situation is difficult for everyone, Opal remains committed to keeping our team members, customers and key stakeholders updated on further developments and is continuing to work diligently with a view to providing clarity for our team members as soon as practicable.

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