The fire economy
By May 2004, the Victorian Government had funded the clearfelling of forests burnt in the 2003 fires to the tune of $6.9 million.
Another $4 million was given to help the woodchip industry continue its access the following year.
Then in 2007 we taxpayers gave at least $868,000 to help the industry clearfell the 2006 fire-damaged forests.
From the 2004-05 and 2006-07 Victorian Budgets