Forest Products Industry

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the news that tomorrow’s federal budget will invest an additional $2 billion over four years to fund critical infrastructure, which will support the construction of up to 65,000 new homes. Source: Timberbiz “One of the key challenges facing the residential construction industry is the cost of enabling infrastructure, which invariably lands on the new home buyer,” said HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin. “A substantial number of housing projects across Australia are near ready for construc-tion, but stalled due to a lack of funding for enabling (‘last mile’) infrastructure. “In many growth areas, state and local governments face increasing difficulty financing the trunk infrastructure required to unlock new housing supply. “The cost of infrastructure provision, and the mechanisms used to recover those costs, have a direct influence on land prices, development feasibility and housing affordability. “Poorly sequenced or excessively front-loaded charges raise project costs and delay delivery, whereas timely and efficiently financed infrastructure can expand supply and moderate price pressures. “It is particularly pleasing to see that $500 million is reserved just for regional Australia. “It can be a challenge to fund infrastructure in regional growth areas, where the population does not yet support more investment in services, but the population can’t grow without it. This helps break that ‘chicken and egg’ cycle. “Timely provision of enabling infrastructure is critical to making projects shovel ready. It is not traditionally an Australian government responsibility, so this is an important commitment that will help accelerate housing delivery,” concluded Ms Martin.

The post HIA welcomes news that the federal budget will invest in construction appeared first on Timberbiz.

The Minns Labor Government is expanding support to more down-stream businesses impacted by the moratorium on timber harvesting within the boundary of the Great Koala National Park. Source: Timberbiz In October 2025, the Government announced the $5 million Forestry Industry Supply Chain Support Program, which provides financial support to eligible businesses facing higher operating costs after wood supply was interrupted by the Great Koala National Park timber harvesting moratorium. In response to industry feedback, the Government is expanding the program to make additional businesses in the supply chain experiencing reduced trade or increased operating costs potentially eligible for financial assistance. Under the expanded program, additional eligible businesses, such as engineers, chainsaw sales and sharpening service providers, machinery operators and other impacted contracting businesses will now be able to access funding including for: Planning with up to $25,000 to cover the costs of professional advice and business planning to support businesses make informed decisions about their future, and Transition with up to $250,000 to help eligible businesses implement plans, including activities that support transitioning to a new business model such as the purchase or upgrade of equipment and machinery, advice on tax, legal and marketing strategies, as well as other transition costs such as disposal or site remediation.   To further support downstream businesses, the existing funding program has also been extended by six months to 8 September 2026 or when available funding is fully allocated. This will provide businesses with additional time to make applications to the fund. The Minns Government has worked closely with affected mills, providing financial support to help businesses and their employees manage disruptions to wood supply agreements. In addition to payments to the mills, the NSW Government has also provided a worker support package including: Top-up redundancy payments – employees will receive four weeks of base pay (inclusive of employer redundancy payment) per year of employment with an impacted timber mill or harvesting operator, capped at $150,000. Additional support for employees over 45 years of age – a further three weeks of pay for every year of service after the age of 45 (up to a cap of $50,000), to be calculated separately from the top up redundancy payment Education and training payments – of up to $9,000 for retraining and upskilling. Relocation payments -– of up to $45,000 for affected workers who move more than 50 kilometres for new employment. Free access to mental health support, and financial and legal guidance – TELUS Health are the contracted organisation to assist affected workers and their immediate families.   In addition to the $5 million Forestry Industry Supply Chain Support Program and the Forestry Industry Worker Support Program, the Minns Government has committed $6 million to a Community Grants package. This grants package will support new opportunities for tourism and small businesses on the Mid North Coast, in consultation with local communities. For further information about the Forestry Industry Supply Chain Support Programs, including eligibility and guidelines, go to https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forestry/establishing-the-great-koala-national-park

The post Minns government expanding support program post Koala National Park appeared first on Timberbiz.

Australian Forest Products Association CEO Diana Hallam has resigned to pursue new opportunities. Source: Timberbiz The Board of Directors has initiated a comprehensive search to identify a new CEO. During the interim period, the Board has appointed Richard Hyett, currently AFPA’s Deputy CEO, to serve as acting CEO effective from today. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Di for her dedicated service and leadership over the past two years,” AFPA Deputy Chair Matt Crapp said. “During her time as CEO, the organisation has been a proactive and successful contrib-utor to informing Government policy outcomes that recognise the essential role forest products play in the decarbonisation of the Australian economy. “We wish Di the best in her future endeavours.” Ms Hallam said: “It has been an honour to lead AFPA. I am proud of what we have achieved and confident that AFPA is well-positioned for continued success.”

The post Diana Hallam resigns as Australian Forest Products CEO appeared first on Timberbiz.

The NSW Government has published the Independent Forestry Panel’s Stakeholder Consultation Report. Source: Timberbiz The NSW forestry industry is a complex but crucial part of the state’s economic future which needs modernising reform across both softwoods and hardwoods to capture new opportunities to move up the value chain for timber products and improve environmental outcomes. The Independent Forestry Panel, chaired by Peter Duncan AM with other panel members Professor Mary O’Kane AC and the Hon Mick Veitch, has produced a report which outlines stakeholder feedback and areas where government should focus in the development of a future Action Plan for the forestry industry in NSW. In producing the report, the panel consulted with representatives from the timber industry, forest growers, environment groups, unions, Aboriginal communities, local government, business, related industries, tourism, scientific experts and the Commonwealth Government. The panel that was appointed in August 2024 received written submissions from more than 1500 individuals and 160 organisations representing a cross section of the timber industry, environmental groups, researchers, residents and businesses from regional NSW and others. This report is designed to succinctly and fairly present the views of these stakeholders to Government and highlight the matters for resolution necessary to inform the development of the Forestry Industry Action Plan. The Minns government says that making this report available to the public is a key step toward modernising forestry in a way that protects biodiversity. Following the finalisation of the Stakeholder Report, the panel has been tasked to produce a Considerations Report. This report will accommodate the Stakeholder Report findings and identify opportunities to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the NSW forestry industry and support jobs, in the context of recent and ongoing changes, including: the NSW Government’s moratorium on logging in the proposed area for the Great Koala National Park, changes to the Commonwealth’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and opportunities the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme could offer state forestry reform, including potential revenue for the NSW Government.   The executive summary of the report said that regional communities were split valuing jobs and environmental protection however there were shared goals across all stakeholder groups. These goals were: Address timber and forest scarcity Expand plantations Improve stewardship Increase bushfire resilience Protect biodiversity Use sustainable building materials Maximise carbon benefits Base decisions on scientific evidence Recognise regional differences Provide long term certainty   The panel has urged the government to rely on peer-reviewed contemporary scientific consensus in ongoing policy developments. There is one central unresolved question which is whether native forestry will continue or not. This report is designed to present the views of stakeholders to Government and highlight the matters for resolution necessary to inform the development of the Forestry Industry Action Plan. The Panel’s Stakeholder Report is available online: www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/cabinet-office/resources/independent-forestry-panel-stakeholder-report

The post NSW government publishes Independent Forestry Panel Stakeholder report appeared first on Timberbiz.