Forest Products Industry

Forest and Wood Communities Australia (FWCA) is calling for the Government to publish the trigger for renewed fuel relief. The Federal Government extended fuel relief in June because Australians remained under cost-of-living pressure, uncertainty persisted in the Middle East and truckies needed help to “keep Australia moving”. Source: Timberbiz Sydney wholesale diesel was then 182.3 cents per litre. Today it is 251.5 cents per litre – almost 70 cents, or 38 per cent, higher – while Middle East instability has escalated again and regional businesses remain heavily exposed to diesel costs. Yet the Government says it has “no plans” for another excise cut. FWCA Chair Steve Dobbyns said the Government needed to explain why the reasons it gave for relief in June apparently no longer apply. “In June the Government said Australians were still under pressure, international uncertainty remained and truckies needed help to keep Australia moving. “All three conditions still exist – but diesel is now almost 70 cents a litre more expensive at the wholesale level.” “So, what has changed?” On 21 June, the Commonwealth extended fuel relief for July, cutting both fuel excise and the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge by 16 cents per litre. The Government explicitly said the extension recognised that although fuel prices had fallen substantially, people remained under cost-of-living pressure. It also said the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge reduction was needed to help truckies “keep Australia moving”. Eight days later, it again justified the extension on the basis that Australians remained under pressure and there was continuing uncertainty in the Middle East and global economy. Mr Dobbyns said that created a clear accountability test. “The Government does not need a new justification. It simply needs to explain why the justification it gave Australians in June no longer applies. “If there is an objective trigger for renewed relief – whether it is a wholesale price, regional pump price, national stock level or defined impact on freight – publish it. “If there isn’t one, explain why a major fuel-policy intervention can be switched on and off without a transparent benchmark.” FWCA said waiting until diesel again reached the absolute peak of the earlier crisis was not a credible policy test. “The Government continued relief when diesel had already fallen well below today’s price,” Mr Dobbyns said. “If assistance was warranted at $1.82 wholesale diesel, Australians deserve an explanation for why it apparently does not even warrant reconsideration at $2.51.” The renewed price surge is already hitting essential regional industries. ABC Rural reported last week that grain growers were entering one of the most fuel-intensive periods of their year just as diesel prices were rising again. One trucking operator said ten trucks consumed at least 10,000 litres a day, while his monthly fuel bill had approached $400,000 during the earlier price spike. Farmers said diesel remained their only practical option for completing harvest. Mr Dobbyns said the same economics applied across regional Australia. “Whether it is a header harvesting grain, a forestry machine producing timber or a truck carrying either product to market, diesel is not an optional expense. “When diesel rises sharply, the cost does not stop at the bowser — it moves through freight, food, timber, construction materials and ultimately the wider economy.” FWCA said the affordability issue was compounded by questions over Australia’s fuel infrastructure. Energy Minister Chris Bowen has acknowledged that Australian storage has at times been full, leaving tankers waiting offshore for storage capacity to become available. FWCA said the Government should disclose whether Commonwealth-supported cargoes delayed by Australian storage or unloading constraints had incurred significant demurrage or other costs, and who ultimately bore them. Mr Dobbyns said the central issue was consistency and transparency. “The Government acted when fuel costs threatened households, truckies and regional industries, and it continued that assistance when diesel prices were much lower than they are today. “The question is simple: why isn’t it as important now? “Fuel security should be measured by our ability to get fuel where it is needed, when it is needed and at the lowest practicable supply-chain cost — not simply by counting tankers on the horizon.”

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Kaingaroa Tipu, Ngāti Whakaue and the Tūhourangi Tribal Authority are inviting people to roll up their sleeves and join a native planting day alongside Waipa Stream in Whakarewarewa Forest in New Zealand’s north island on Tuesday 29 September. Source: Timberbiz The planting day will support the restoration of a special part of the forest following harvesting activity earlier this year. By working together, participants will help strengthen the health of the Waipa Stream and Puarenga catchment and contribute to a greener future for the wider community. Dan Phillips, Land Resources Manager, says the planting day reflects Kaingaroa Tipu’s commitment to caring for the land beyond the production forest. “Harvesting is only one part of the forest lifecycle. Opportunities like this allow us to work alongside mana whenua and the community to restore and enhance areas of environmental significance, ensuring they continue to thrive for generations to come,” he said. Every tree planted will make a lasting contribution to the restoration of this important catchment and the future health of Whakarewarewa Forest. Whether you’re an experienced planter or giving it a go for the first time, everyone is welcome. Join us for the morning, the afternoon, or stay for the whole day and enjoy a community BBQ lunch with fellow volunteers. The morning planting session: 9.00am to 12.00pm followed by a community BBQ lunch from 12.00pm to 1.00pm. The afternoon planting session is from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. The location is at the designated pull-over bay on Eight Mile Gate Road. Please wear sturdy footwear and bring a water bottle, weather-appropriate clothing, sun protection and a spade if you have one. Register now: To help us plan catering, equipment and planting numbers, please register in the link Wednesday 23 September. You must register to take part.  

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A forestry professional from the United Kingdom is gaining first-hand experience in sustainable forest management in NSW, as part of an international exchange program. Source: Timberbiz Karen Batten, a Forest Manager with F&W Forestry UK, is halfway through a three-month placement with Forestry Corporation of NSW under the 2026 Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Program. Since arriving in Australia, Ms Batten has spent time with Forestry Corporation’s Hardwoods Division on the North Coast and is now working in the Softwoods Division in the Snowy Valleys, experiencing the diverse forestry systems used across NSW. The placement will enable Ms Batten to gain experience in silviculture, plantation management and harvesting operations. During her time in Australia, Ms Batten is writing a blog published by the Institute of Chartered Foresters in the UK, detailing her experiences working in Australian forestry operations. “Everyone at Forestry Corporation has been so generous with their time and knowledge and I hope to convey even a snippet of the interesting work that they undertake,” Ms Batten said. Ms Batten said she was impressed by the productivity of NSW’s hardwood plantations, the scale of the state’s softwood estate and the innovation that is applied to forest management in Australia. “If I had to pick the biggest takeaway from my first month with Forestry Corporation, it would be how data collection is utilised across the organisation,” she said. “Being exposed to this and other data collection techniques has broadened my understanding of the possibilities to move beyond observations and adopt similar approaches to support management decisions. “I want to sincerely thank my colleagues and hosts at both the Coffs Harbour and Tumut offices who have shown me around and shared their knowledge so readily.” The Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Program provides emerging forestry professionals with opportunities to build international networks, share expertise and gain practical experience in different forest management systems around the world and is delivered through a partnership between Forestry Australia, the Institute of Chartered Foresters in the UK, the Canadian Institute of Forestry and the New Zealand Institute of Forestry.

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Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has appointed Dr Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra brings more than two decades of senior executive, board, and operational leadership experience across the forestry, research, and government sectors. Source: Timberbiz She joins FWPA from the University of Tasmania, where she currently serves as Dean of Natural Sciences, overseeing a large team, managing complex operations, and directing substantial research and development portfolios. The FWPA Board welcomed the appointment, highlighting Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra’s proven leadership, deep sector relationships, and strong track record of translating research into practical, commercial outcomes for industry. Having worked at the intersection of research, industry, and government for 26 years, Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra uniquely positioned to drive FWPA’s strategic vision and deliver measurable value to members and the broader forest and wood products sector.” Throughout her career, Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra has played a pivotal role in national sector initiatives. She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI), having previously led the successful $101.5 million federal funding negotiation to establish the national research institute. Her previous positions include Chair of the Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network (TFFPN) where she oversaw significant membership growth and governed the Tasmanian Regional Forestry Hub—as well as Director of the ARC Training Centre for Forest Value. “It is a privilege to be appointed to lead Forest and Wood Products Australia at such a pivotal time for our industry. The forestry and wood products sector faces a changing economic, environmental, and global landscape, but it is also primed with incredible opportunity,” Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra said: “FWPA plays a critical role in supporting innovation, capability, and profitable market growth for its members. I look forward to working closely with our members, industry partners, and government stakeholders to execute FWPA’s strategic priorities, build industry capability, and ensure our sector can thrive.” Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra will commence work as CEO on 1 December and relocate to Melbourne to lead the FWPA team in delivering its national Research, Development & Extension (RD&E) programs, promotional activities, and standards development.

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Former Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries has been appointed the Australian Timber Importers Federation’s new general manager, commencing next month. Source: Timberbiz Mr Dorries resigned from Responsible Wood at the start of September after more than 11 years. He has had more than 35 years of experience in the forest products industry, along with extensive expertise in certification, standards, and compliance through his work with Responsible Wood and the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA). The ATIF Board believes his deep industry knowledge and practical understanding of certification frameworks will enable him to effectively support ATIF members and stakeholders as they navigate the increasingly complex and evolving compliance landscape for imported timber and engineered wood products. The board says it is confident that Mr Dorries’ experience, leadership, and industry relationships will provide significant value to the Federation and its membership. Mr Dorries replaces Natalie Reynolds who resigned in early July.

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Recent commentary has highlighted just how easy it is for misconceptions about the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to spread. In some cases, a lack of understanding can result in significant financial opportunities being missed. At the opposite end of the spectrum, forest owners who do not fully understand the long-term implications of registering their forest in the ETS can find themselves with legal obligations they neither expected nor budgeted for. While the ETS has been with us for nearly 18 years, it has undergone several significant updates. It is therefore understandable that many people struggle to keep up with these changes and the impact they have on forest owners across New Zealand. In particular, there seems to be some confusion around how carbon credits are claimed in the ETS and the long-term obligations that forest owners face as participants in the scheme. These obligations depend largely on which of the three ETS carbon accounting categories a forest is registered under: Stock Change, Averaging or Permanent Forest. Until the end of 2022, all ETS forests used Stock Change, or the “saw-tooth” model for carbon accounting. In 2023, two additional categories—Averaging and Permanent Forest—were introduced to better reflect the different objectives of rotational forests destined for harvest and continuous-cover permanent forests. For forests registered under the Stock Change category, carbon credits can be claimed annually but carbon losses due to harvesting must also be accounted for, which can result in a significant quantity of carbon credits needing to be surrendered back to the Crown. If the forests are not harvested, the forest owner will continue to accrue carbon credits across the lifespan of the forest. Averaging accounting is well suited to forest owners who are planting a forest with the intention of harvesting. Carbon credits are claimed until the long-term average age for the species, typically 16–26 years for exotic forests. Beyond this point no further carbon credits are claimed. For forests harvested after reaching their long-term average age, a full surrender of carbon credits is only required if the land is not replanted within four years, or converted to a non-forestry land use. The Permanent Forest category is aptly named; forest owners entering their forests into this category should be prepared to keep the trees in the ground in perpetuity. The minimum sign-up period into this category is 50 years and during this time the forest owner is unable to voluntarily withdraw from the scheme or clear-fell their forest. Carbon credits continue to accrue across the lifespan of the forest. Selective tree harvesting can be undertaken, as long as 30% canopy cover is maintained across the entire forest area. Whilst the benefits and outcomes under Averaging Accounting are easily understood, the waters can be murkier for forests registered under Stock Change or the Permanent Forest category. This often leads to questions such as: My forest is registered under Stock Change, how many carbon credits can I sell liability-free, and still harvest my forest? The answer to this is that it very much depends; planting year, species, length of time registered in the ETS, harvest age, year of replant and replanted species are all inputs into this equation that can significantly impact the end result. This carbon accounting method is the most complex and advice from a forestry professional is highly recommended. My forest is registered in the Permanent Forest category, what will happen once the 50-year sign-up period is over? Some forest owners have entered this category thinking that they will claim carbon credits for 50 years, exit the ETS and harvest their forests. While exiting the scheme after 50 years is technically possible, doing so would generally require the surrender of a substantial quantity of carbon credits. Whether that is financially viable will depend largely on the carbon price at that time. The ETS is a complex beast, and it is essential to understand the weave of the specific forest characteristics, registration category, historic and future carbon credit claims and on-going compliance requirements. I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking professional advice before registering your forest in the ETS, purchasing a forest that has been registered in the ETS or selling carbon credits. Kirsten Stuart is a Company Forester & Consultant with Laurie Forestry

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