RECENT world events have highlighted the importance of Australia having competitive manufacturing capacity across key commodities including paper, such as Norske Skog’s Boyer Mill.

Touring the mill, Resources Minister and Lyons MP Guy Barnett said Norske Skog was a vital industry for Tasmania and a major employer in the Derwent Valley.

“Norske Skog is the only producer in Australia of publication-grade paper so it holds a strategically important role in supporting newspapers, magazines and book printing across the country,’’ he said.

The Derwent Valley Gazette is produced on paper produced at Boyer. “The mill has attracted $2 million from the Tasmanian Government to investigate diversification options to remain globally competitive and examine emissions reduction opportunities to ensure it remains an important employment hub for the region,’’ Mr Barnett said.

“Norske Skog has also been promised $2 million from the Federal Government to fast-track an analysis for replacement of its coal-fired boiler and help secure the mill’s long-term future. “I visited the mill recently and the management outlined a range of other mill upgrades that Norske Skog would fund to complement the government support.’’

Boyer Mill General Manager Patrick Dooley said: “Recent world events have highlighted the importance of Australia having competitive, sovereign manufacturing capacity across key commodities including paper.

“As a company we are committed to Boyer’s future and appreciate the opportunity to work with the State and Federal Governments to ensure publication paper continues to be manufactured in Australia.’’