They claim the 8,000 tonnes of logs exported over a 48-hour period would have provided another two weeks of job security at Auspine‘s Scottsdale sawmills.

However, Tasmanian log supplier Rayonier has defended the exports, and, in a statement, said most of the sawlogs were either unsuitable or rejected by Tasmanian processors because they were poor quality.

The remainder were privately owned and sold for the best return.