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The Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) has funded over 50 demonstration projects across more than 20 Asia-Pacific economies, with total investment exceeding US$45 million. Source: China Daily Gong Yumei, director of the APFNet Coordination Centre — an affiliate of China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration — revealed the figure at a press conference. The briefing was held in the lead-up to the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry, which is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, from July 27 to 28. Under the theme “Building a Green Asia-Pacific, Sharing Ecological Well-being“, the high-level gathering will bring together regional leaders to discuss sustainable forest management and ecological governance. “In recent years, China has actively supported and participated in forestry exchange and cooperation under the APEC framework, promoting practical collaboration among member economies in key areas such as forest restoration and sustainable management, ecosystem conservation, community livelihood improvement and capacity building,” Gong said, highlighting APFNet as an example. She said these demonstration projects represent APFNet’s efforts, under the administration’s support, to explore effective models for forest restoration, focusing on the needs of developing member economies — with a focus on degraded forest rehabilitation, multifunctional forest enhancement and community livelihood improvement. One of the projects, she said, is an urban forestry demonstration initiative in the Bang Kachao area of Bangkok, Thailand, which seeks to explore effective ways to protect and restore the “urban lungs” of densely populated cities. “These projects act both as ‘test beds’ for locally tailored forest restoration and as ‘green seeds’ that spread ecological civilization concepts and technologies across the Asia-Pacific — generating ecological gains, community prosperity and sustainable development,” she emphasized. Officially launched in September 2008, APFNet is a nonprofit international organization dedicated to advancing sustainable forest management and rehabilitation in the Asia-Pacific region. The establishment of APFNet, proposed by China, was endorsed by the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting in September 2007 in Sydney, Australia.

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As Europe experiences another summer of extreme heat and wildfire warnings, one tree imported from Australia is coming under renewed scrutiny across the world: eucalyptus. Source: DW Each year, more than 400,000 hikers descend on Galicia for the Camino de Santiago pilgrim walk, crossing misty hills and dense green woodland. But much of the forest surrounding the route is no longer native. Instead of indigenous oak and chestnut, large parts of northwestern Spain are now dominated by eucalyptus. That transformation is not unique to Galicia. Prized by the pulp and timber industries for its rapid growth and profitability, vast monocultures of the Australian tree have been planted in places such as Brazil, Chile, California, India and South Africa. Globally, eucalyptus plantations now cover 22 million hectares across more than 90 countries, and in many regions, they have become a cornerstone of rural economies. But hiding beneath the seemingly tranquil canopies are landscapes vulnerable to extreme wildfires because scientists regard the trees as highly flammable. Europe has already been sweltering this summer, with concerns that the unusually early heat waves could intensify fire risk. Parts of the southern continent have been hit in recent days. Last year was the worst wildfire year on record, with more than 1 million hectares burned — much of it on the Iberian Peninsula. Researchers say that while eucalyptus trees aren’t to blame for igniting these infernos, they can significantly intensify fires once they start. “Eucalypt forests are clearly one of the more flammable forests that we have in the world,” Tim Curran of Lincoln University in New Zealand told DW. “If you put a eucalypt in a new environment, you’re very likely to change what we call fire regimes. So, things like fire intensity, fire frequency; how hot the fire gets and how often you get fires.” The trees’ leaves contain highly flammable oils, and strips of bark can ignite into burning embers. In extreme conditions, those embers can travel huge distances to start secondary fires, as happened during Australia’s devastating 2009 Black Saturday fires. “There was evidence that embers were blown more than 30 kilometres ahead of the fire front to start a new fire,” Curran said, adding that it was not a one-off. In Galicia, plantations can easily outgrow their original borders because while native oak and chestnut can take more than 80 years to reach maturity, eucalyptus needs just 15. As a result, they bounce back quickly when fires decimate landscapes, giving them a competitive advantage over native species. That creates a self-reinforcing cycle that ultimately allows monocultures to expand further, increasing wildfire risk. The plantations in Galicia date back to the 1970s but really took off two decades later. In 1992, the regional government released a forestry plan projecting eucalyptus would reach 250,000 hectares by 2030. It took them 30 years to update that plan, during which time eucalyptus ran rampant. “It’s now around half a million hectares, which is a massive amount of land,” local community leader Joam Evans Pim said. Though the regional government has since introduced a moratorium on new eucalyptus plantations, campaigners say enforcement remains uneven, and illegal planting persists. On the one hand, there is money in eucalyptus — the Galician plantations, which predominantly feed the pulp and timber industries, generated €167 million in 2024 alone. But there is also mismanagement. As younger generations ditch rural lifestyles for urban centres, they are leaving behind uncontrolled plantations. “[Eucalyptus growth] is happening both because of plantations, many of these plantations being illegal, but also because of land abandonment, because of forest fires, because of the invasive nature of the species. So, it’s a mix of all these that has led to this result.” Critics accuse regional authorities of failing to control expansion for too long. Luisa Piñeiro, director general of forest management for the Galician government, told DW there had been failures in the past. “Back then [in the 1990s], there probably wasn’t adequate forest management. There wasn’t as much control over the plantations or the species being planted,” she said. Nevertheless, the government does not classify eucalyptus as invasive, and Piñeiro rejects calls for blanket bans. She argues instead for improved management and greater species diversity. “Rather than banning things, we should first have a forest management plan,” she said. “We believe forests should have the species diversity they’re meant to have.” Galicia starts to reckon with eucalyptus legacy Looking over his community’s land in Froxán, about 40 kilometers west of Santiago de Compostela, Evans Pim recalls the wildfires that reshaped the surrounding hills. “This is an area that was affected by a very large fire in 2006. All the woodlands around the village burnt down, and after that it became invaded with eucalyptus,” he told DW. It was when another fire struck ten years later that the community decided to act.  They set up the De-Eucalyptus Brigades volunteer group, working to raise awareness around species like eucalyptus and remove them from community-owned land. What began as a team of 50 people has now grown to1500 operating across Galicia. “We’ve been eliminating eucalyptus and allowing native trees to take that space,” Evans Pim said. “We want to create a green fire break… and eventually we’re aiming to have a land which manages itself. Where we don’t have to intervene, and that is resilient to fires and climate change and prolonged drought.” The devastating Portugal wildfires in 2017, in which people died trying to escape, serve as a warning. “Portugal lived the experience a few years ago; people died, burnt in their cars,” he said. “We would really hope we don’t have to get there for real change in terms of applying existing laws and improving all the laws to be taken seriously.” That message is increasingly echoed by scientists, forestry groups and activists who say unmanaged land is becoming one of the biggest fire dangers, not just in Europe but around the world. Researchers say the economic benefits of eucalyptus increasingly need to be balanced against rising […]

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Greece has become the first country in the world to integrate a dedicated satellite constellation into its national firefighting system, launching four suitcase‑sized nanosatellites designed to spot new wildfires within minutes and transmit real‑time alerts to incident commanders. Source: Timberbiz The system, developed with German company OroraTech, (A CTIF Associate Member) uses thermal sensors capable of detecting hotspots as small as 4×4 metres, far surpassing conventional satellites that typically identify fires only once they reach the size of a cruise ship. The satellites scan Greece’s fire‑prone mainland and more than 100 inhabited islands, feeding imagery into AI models that instantly analyse heat signatures, filter out false alarms such as solar panels or hot factory roofs, and send verified alerts directly to fire‑service command units. When multiple fires ignite simultaneously — a growing challenge during Europe’s increasingly severe heatwaves — the system provides commanders with location, size, intensity, and predictive spread simulations to help prioritize resources. Officials say the technology is a critical response to Greece’s escalating wildfire threat. A 2018 blaze east of Athens killed more than 100 people, and in 2023 the Alexandroupolis fire became the largest wildfire ever recorded in the European Union, burning roughly 96,000 hectares. With hotter, drier summers now the norm, Greece’s satellite‑AI network is being closely watched by other European nations seeking faster, more autonomous wildfire‑detection capabilities.

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New research from the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao aims to improve New Zealand’s wildfire preparedness and response. The institute has developed national-scale wildfire hazard potential data layers to help communities, businesses and wildfire managers better understand the areas that are more likely to burn under high-risk conditions, and how severe fire behaviour is likely to be. Source: Timberbiz The data was developed by simulating more than 500,000 potential ignitions and wildfire growth around New Zealand. Fire scientist Laura Kiely, who led the work, says the team modelled potential fires under set conditions – not actual fires that have happened. “We’re not saying this is the number of fires that will happen at any time. Rather, we’re considering if we have an ignition occurring, then what happens? What does that look like? Combining data from a high number of simulations allows us to consider the potential fire behaviour and the probability of it occurring,” she said. The data combines information about likely ignition drivers, fuel and weather conditions and potential fire behaviour to provide a consistent, documented baseline for planning, prevention, preparedness and risk communication. The team is designing these layers so they can be shared and reused in operational tools and scientific workflows. “This will help identify what parts of New Zealand burn repeatedly under historical locally extreme weather conditions in our simulations and what parts have high- or low-intensity fires – to give an indication of what a wildfire could look like in a particular area if a fire were to occur there,” Ms Liely said. “This can enable safer wildfire management, resilience planning, better-prepared responses and more transparent conversations about mitigation. Knowing the potential hazard that could occur allows us to better prepare for a wildfire.” Consistent hazard layers can help explain why defensible space, building design choices and protection of evacuation routes matter, supporting resilience. The team is working with councils and risk analysis companies that have already expressed interest in using this data. The data layers can be accessed here:  Wildfire Hazard Potential Data WebExperience https://gis.scionresearch.com/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=8458963e54dc42ac958f0e5f3dda2c71&page=Home&views  

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A simple idea is making a practical difference at Five Mile Wetland in New Zealand, where Kaingaroa Tipu and Abodo have teamed up to support predator control, enhance biodiversity and give timber offcuts a useful second life. Source: Timberbiz The collaboration centres on a new network of pest traps that will support predator control, building on years of community-led restoration work including planting, weed management and habitat care in one of Rotorua’s best-known public wetland sites. Kaingaroa Tipu GM Sustainability Colin Maunder said the partnership reflects the organisation’s wider commitment to caring for the forest beyond the trees it grows. “Protecting places like Five Mile takes ongoing effort, and predator control is a big part of that, especially in wetlands where threatened bird species live,” he said. “This is about long-term stewardship – supporting healthier ecosystems as well as productive forests.” What makes this project especially fitting is the role timber plays in it. Timber manufacturer Abodo has repurposed offcuts from its manufacturing process into wooden pest trap boxes for use at the wetland and Whakarewarewa Forest, creating a simple example of circular forestry in action. Sustainably grown timber harvested from the wider Kaingaroa Forest Estate is returning to help protect the landscape from which it came. Abodo Sustainability Lead Jade Harris says this practical action makes partnerships like this meaningful. “It’s a simple idea, but it shows how the right partnership can take a useful construction material into something that protects biodiversity as well,” she says. “Instead of becoming waste, these offcuts are going back into the forest to do a job.” The traps, hand-crafted by the Men’s Shed, have been installed in the forest with Kaingaroa Tipu staff among those making weekly checks to monitor and report on the various pests captured. In the first four weeks, 220 pests were caught, including rats, hedgehogs and mice. Because Five Mile is a popular public site, the use of safe, toxin-free trapping methods is an important part of the approach. Red Stag near Waipa is one of many supporters of biodiversity protection in and around Whakarewarewa Forest and Five Mile Wetland. Red Stag’s Anthony Gare also serves on the Whakarewarewa Pest Free Trust and says the collaboration is an example of what can be achieved when organisations work together. “No single organisation can do this alone – biodiversity protection works best when efforts are connected. We know that small actions that are sustained can have a big impact.”

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National Tree Day is Australia’s largest community tree-planting and nature care event, coordinated annually by Planet Ark. Schools Tree Day takes place on Friday 24 July and National Tree Day on Sunday 26 July.  Source: Timberbiz Since its inception in 1996, Australians have planted more than 28 million native trees. With the recent announcement of Coles as the major sponsor of National Tree Day 2026, one of Australia’s biggest retailers will now help expand that impact by supporting communities across the country to take part in local environmental action. Coles kicked off its support planting seedlings at a site near the company’s Store Support Centre in the east of Melbourne. The site, which runs along Gardiners Creek trail, was originally mostly weedy grasses. The revegetation of the trail provides an important wildlife corridor with native vegetation seamlessly incorporated into suburbs as an excellent example of biodiversity in an urban area. Seedlings planted were a mixture of natives, including local Acacias, Poas and Dianellas. Coles staff were also joined by members of the Planet Ark team, including Planet Ark CEO Adam Culley. “National Tree Day has inspired millions of Australians to take positive environmental action over the past 30 years, and we’re thrilled to welcome Coles as Major Sponsor during this landmark anniversary year,” Mr Culley said. “The practical support Coles is providing to communities around the country will help local organisers plant more seedlings, engage more volunteers and create lasting environmental benefits in their local areas.” As part of its sponsorship, Coles will equip five National Tree Day hero sites across Australia, with one site in each participating state receiving a comprehensive support package to help deliver successful community planting events. The support includes a $2,500 seedling contribution for each site, a $500 Coles voucher for refreshments, site coordinator resources and event materials, helping local organisers welcome volunteers and maximise the environmental impact of their planting activities. In addition to supporting local planting events, Coles is providing a prize for a nationwide National Tree Day giveaway hosted by Planet Ark to celebrate the efforts of volunteers. Australians who take part in National Tree Day activities will have the chance to enter by sharing a photo from their event on Instagram using the hashtag #NationalTreeDayGiveaway. Ten winners will each receive a $250 Coles gift card. You can register to volunteer at a site near you at www.nationaltreeday.org.au/find-a-site  

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The votes are in, and New Zealand has spoken. The iconic Bucket Tree in Tawa has been crowned New Zealand Tree of the Year 2026 following an outstanding level of public support throughout this year’s competition. Source: Timberbiz Organisers, the NZ Notable Trees Trust, said the result reflected not only the tree’s remarkable history and distinctive appearance, but also the tremendous enthusiasm shown by the Tawa community and supporters across the country. “The Bucket Tree captured people’s imagination from the outset,” said Trust Chair Brad Cadwallader. “Its success was driven by an extraordinary level of community engagement through local media, social media, schools, community groups and residents who proudly got behind their local tree.” The tree was planted in the 1850s on Boscobel Farm in Tawa and is named after the property’s original owner, William Earp as the ‘Earp Macrocarpa’ or ‘Bucket tree’. Since around 1879 it has been regularly trimmed into the form of an upturned bucket, creating a silhouette instantly recognisable to locals. Mr Cadwallader says the tree represents an important piece of Wellington’s heritage. More than just a competition, Tree of the Year aims to celebrate New Zealand’s remarkable trees, their histories, and the communities that care for them. “The real winners are all six finalists,” Mr Cadwallader said. “Each of these extraordinary trees has enjoyed national exposure, with thousands of New Zealanders discovering their stories, histories and significance. That’s exactly what Tree of the Year is about, connecting people with the trees that shape our landscapes, communities and heritage.” The Trust said it was delighted with the exceptional public response to this year’s competition, which generated strong engagement across traditional and social media, while attracting widespread support from local councils, community organisations, elected representatives and several mayors who enthusiastically championed their local nominees. “It has been fantastic to see communities embracing their trees with such pride. The competition has sparked conversations about the value of trees, encouraged people to learn more about their local natural heritage, and inspired many to visit these remarkable living landmarks.” The six finalists represented a diverse cross-section of New Zealand’s arboreal heritage—from ancient native giants and historic heritage trees to unusual specimens with fascinating stories spanning generations. The NZ Notable Trees Trust thanked everyone who nominated trees, voted, shared stories and helped promote this year’s competition. “Tree of the Year continues to grow each year, and that is thanks to the passion New Zealanders have for the special trees that enrich our towns, cities and countryside. We look forward to doing it all again next year.” Final Placings The Bucket Tree – Tawa The Sangro Survivor – Pukekohe Old Goff – Hobsonville   Established in 2007, the NZ Notable Trees Trust documents and celebrates New Zealand’s arboreal heritage. It maintains the NZ Tree Register, an open-access online database showcasing notable and historic trees throughout Aotearoa.

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Recent Australian bushfire seasons demonstrate that current fire regimes dominated by long fire free intervals and heavy fuel accumulation are unsustainable. Source: John O’Donnell Prescribed burning remains the only practical, landscape scale tool for reducing fuel hazards, moderating fire behaviour, protecting communities and maintaining forest resilience. Across Australia, a suppression heavy, mitigation light posture has repeatedly failed under severe conditions, whereas jurisdictions with sustained prescribed burning programs show markedly better preparedness and suppression outcomes. This review synthesises research, case studies and operational experience to demonstrate the decisive benefits of prescribed burning for bushfire preparedness, suppression, safety and cost effectiveness. The review can be downloaded here. Shifting from suppression heavy to suppression and mitigation focused A central theme is the need to move away from reliance on suppression, which collapses under extreme weather and heavy fuels. Heavy fuels in SE Australia have repeatedly driven uncontrollable fires. Fuel reduction lowers fireline intensity, rate of spread and spotting, expands tactical options, improves firefighter safety and increases initial attack success. Reduced bushfire fuel risks Prescribed burning reduces surface litter, elevated fine fuels, bark fuels, shrubs and coarse woody debris, directly lowering intensity, spread and spotting potential. Fine fuels accumulate rapidly in eucalypt forests; without regular mild burning they reach levels that support fast moving, high intensity fires. Fuel is the only determinant of fire behaviour that land managers can modify at scale and decades of research confirm that reducing fine fuels reduces intensity. Studies show that reducing biomass from 24 to 16 t/ha can halve the likelihood of large fires, and fuels younger than six years markedly mitigate intensity. Heavy, continuous fuels in NSW forests (60–100 t/ha) have driven unprecedented fire behaviour. Fuel reduction also improves access, escape options and reduces reliance on expensive aerial fleets. Enhanced bushfire preparedness Preparedness across SE Australia remains inadequate due to very low prescribed burning rates (0.6–2% annually), these levels are insufficient to manage accumulating fuels.  In contrast, SW Western Australia historically treated 6–8% of forest annually, maintaining 40% of bushland in fuels 0–5 years old and achieving strong reductions in wildfire extent. Long term WA data show that when prescribed burning declines, uncontrolled bushfire area rises exponentially. Standing dead trees and hazardous fuels along roads further undermine preparedness and firefighter safety. Improved suppression efficiency Prescribed burning provides a decisive suppression advantage by modifying the fire environment before ignition. Lower fuel loads slow fires, reduce flame height, widen suppression windows and expand viable tactics. Research shows fuel reduction increases the proportion of the perimeter where direct or parallel attack is safe, improves access and egress, increases resource productivity, reduces holding time and expands the weather window for successful initial attack. Case studies from WA (1978, 2023) demonstrate that lightning ignited fires in younger fuels spread slowly and were easily contained, whereas fires in older fuels required concentrated effort. Across states, fuel reduced areas consistently slow spread, lower intensity and provide anchor points for backburning, containment and firefighter safety. Suppression benefits across jurisdictions Western Australia’s 50 year program shows that prescribed burning reduces flame height, rate of spread, spotting and intensity, with effects lasting 8–20 years. Victorian studies show prescribed burning most effectively assists suppression within 4–10 years, after which bark and elevated fuels rebuild. Case studies from Victoria, NSW, SA, Tasmania and ACT consistently show that fuel reduced areas slow or halt fires, reduce spotting, provide safer tactical positions and prevent fires from reaching towns. Safety benefits Prescribed burning improves firefighter and community safety by reducing flame heights, moderating behaviour and creating safer access and escape routes. Fuel reduced areas beside roads lower evacuation risks and support safer backburning. Examples from Queensland, NSW and Victoria show that prescribed burning beside key roads and tracks significantly reduces firefighter danger. Long term community based programs, such as Kurrajong Heights, demonstrate the effectiveness of mosaic burning for maintaining low fuel buffers around towns. Cost benefits Case studies show prescribed burning reduces suppression costs by enabling quicker control, reducing resource needs, lowering reliance on aerial fleets and decreasing chemical suppressant use. US modelling shows suppression costs will rise steadily through 2100 due to warming climates and accumulated fuels, reinforcing the need for expanded mitigation. The Dixie Fire example illustrates that proactive fuel management would have cost a fraction of the $700 million spent on suppression. Reduced bushfire extent Long term WA data show prescribed burning explains up to 71% of variation in annual wildfire extent, with strong inverse relationships between treatment levels and wildfire area. Studies from WA, Victoria and NSW confirm that fuel reduced landscapes limit fire size, reduce severity and prevent megafires. Without expanded prescribed burning, SE Australia will continue to experience escalating bushfire disasters. Enhanced training and readiness Prescribed burning provides critical training environments for developing suppression capability, improving situational awareness, understanding fire behaviour and practising tactics such as backburning, edge management and mop up. These skill sets strengthen operational readiness and improve safety during bushfires. Conclusions Across decades of evidence, prescribed burning consistently delivers decisive benefits for bushfire preparedness, suppression, safety and cost effectiveness. Fuel reduced landscapes slow fires, lower intensity, expand tactical options and protect communities and firefighters. To avoid repeating suppression dominated failures, governments need to expand and stabilise prescribed burning programs and embed effective mitigation programs as core land management.

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ForestFit has launched a new technology platform and welcomed ArtesMobius as a Foundation Sponsor. As expectations around safety, environmental performance and supply-chain assurance continue to grow, ForestFit is helping Australia’s forest service businesses translate continual improvement into independently verified performance. Source: Timberbiz The launch of ForestFit’s new website and Forest Services Portal marks an important step in the development of Australia’s Forest Services Standard and Certification Scheme. The platform gives businesses undertaking harvesting, haulage, civil and silviculture operations clearer access to the certification pathway, practical resources and information to strengthen their management systems and demonstrate safer, more sustainable and professionally governed operations. ForestFit CEO Dionne Olsen said the Scheme is designed to evolve alongside the businesses it supports. “ForestFit is built on continuous improvement. Our role is to keep strengthening the Forest Services Standards and Certification Scheme so forest service businesses can strengthen their own systems, manage critical risks more effectively and demonstrate measurable progress over time,” she said. “The credibility of the accredited Scheme provides confidence in the integrity of the ForestFit Standards, while independent certification gives growers, workers and the broader supply chain confidence in the capability, governance and performance of certified businesses.” This commitment is closely aligned with inaugural Foundation Sponsor ArtesMobius. Their support reflects a shared understanding that resilience is built through sustained investment in equipment, workforce capability, management systems, risk controls and appropriate insurance. Chris Thomas, CEO of Artes Specialty, said insurance should be recognised as part of a broader strategy for protecting businesses and supporting long-term continuity. “Insurance is not simply a response when something goes wrong; it is an investment in protecting people, assets and operations,” he said. “Supporting the industry means more than underwriting its risks. It means recognising and encouraging the investment businesses make in modern machinery, operator training, fire suppression technology and safer ways of working. Those investments help prevent losses, strengthen resilience and support the long-term sustainability of the industry.” Tom Richards, Director of Mobius Insurance, said that we see first-hand how forest service businesses are investing in safer equipment, better technology and stronger operating practices. Supporting ForestFit is a practical way for us to recognise that progress and contribute to a more resilient industry. ForestFit will reach another significant milestone later this month when its newly established Board of Directors holds its inaugural meeting to develop the strategic plan for the Scheme’s next phase. Visit the new website at www.forestfit.com.au

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The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the decision to extend the lease of CSIRO’s North Ryde fire testing facility by six months, saying the announcement provides valuable breathing space but does not resolve the long-term threat to Australia’s building product testing capability. Source: Timberbiz “The extension was a positive step that acknowledged industry concerns, but the underlying issue remains,” said HIA Chief Executive Industry and Policy, Simon Croft. “HIA has raised concerns with the federal government on behalf of Australian manufacturers and builders about this looming problem, so this extension provides an opportunity to further these discussions. “However, the extension simply buys time. Australia still needs a long-term plan to protect this critical national asset,” Mr Croft said. “It is about ensuring Australia retains the testing capability needed to certify safe, compliant and innovative building products. “The North Ryde facility plays a vital role in testing products used throughout residential construction, including timber windows, doors, plasterboard systems, flooring, façade assemblies and bushfire-rated building materials. “Without it, Australia risks relying on a single private provider for many forms of fire testing. This reduces competition, risking increasing costs and creating uncertainty and longer delays for manufacturers seeking certification. “At a time when governments are focused on lifting productivity and delivering more homes, we cannot afford to lose nationally significant testing infrastructure,” Mr Croft said. “This extension gives governments, CSIRO and industry a genuine opportunity to find a permanent solution. We urge all parties to use this time to secure Australia’s long-term fire testing capability. “If six months passes without a long-term commitment, we’ll simply be back having the same conversation with the same risks hanging over manufacturers, builders and home buyers. “A six-month stay is an opportunity that should not be wasted. The clock is now ticking, and industry will be looking for a positive solution,” concluded Mr Croft.  

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