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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.”

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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

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