Coalition Pledges Stronger Forestry, Supply Chain by 2025
An Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) analysis of the major Parties’ forest industry policy and funding commitments has found the Coalition provides the better future for the sector rather than Labor this Federal Election, Chief Executive Officer of AFPA, Diana Hallam said today.
Diana Hallam said that following record commitments from Federal Labor and the Coalition in 2022 – the 2025 Federal Election campaign has delivered a more subdued policy and funding suite from the major Parties and we recognise that neither the Coalition, nor Labor, has committed in full to AFPA’s Election Platform – Australian Timber. Australia’s Future.
“However, we do thank all the sides of politics which have offered constructive policies for our sector at this Election. AFPA has scored the Coalition three and a half stars out of five because of the leadership it provided on key areas of forest industry policy. Labor has been awarded two and a half stars out of five, despite not having released a specific policy for our sector as a whole, with the star score based on other announcements and existing policies,” Diana Hallam said.
Under the leadership of Shadow Minister Jonno Duniam and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, the Coalition has been vocal about its support for native forestry, stating “A Dutton Government will not support any further bans on native forestry”, while also committing to establish new Permanent Timber Production Zones to support ongoing access to both native and plantation timber.
The Coalition has also committed to delivering a key AFPA policy request – Country of Origin labelling for timber and wood products. This is a much-needed reform so consumers can clearly understand where the timber they’re buying comes from, whether its Australian or from overseas. Labor has not committed to Country of Origin labelling to allow people to buy Australian which is disappointing given their strong focus on ‘Buy Australian’ in the recent Budget and during the campaign.
A Timber Manufacturing Expansion Program with $40 million in grants for mills to utilise wood from their own region has also been committed by the Coalition along with the removal of public funding from the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) – whose business model is to destroy honest businesses through continual disruptive lawfare.
Federal Labor has committed $24 million for upgrades at Tasmania’s Boyer Mill, which AFPA welcomes, but stresses that, sector-wide manufacturing facilities are struggling with higher input costs, including energy. Labor has also committed to a new ReMade in Australia brand that will benefit our manufacturing facilities.
We acknowledge the Albanese Government and Minister Julie Collins are in the process of continuing to deliver some of Labor’s 2022 Federal Election commitments, including funding for Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI), development of the National Timber Fibre Strategy, funding through the Support Plantation Establishment Program (SPEP), skills and training funding and support for Regional Forest Industry Hubs.
Federal Labor has also committed to ongoing support for native forestry, stating “We remain committed to providing a framework that allows a sustainable native forest industry to continue”.
AFPA has assessed both major Parties as level pegging on housing. Both sides are offering incentives for first home buyers that will boost the market for new housing, including Labor’s five per-cent first home buyer deposit cap and guaranteeing of loans. The Coalition policy has first home buyers able to deduct home interest repayments from their tax, as well as allowing access to superannuation for a home deposit. Both Parties have large infrastructure investments to facilitate new housing and to boost the workforce. The Coalition has a technical college policy while Labor will provide a significant boost to TAFE.
Unfortunately, there are a number of policy and funding requests contained within AFPA’s Election Platform that neither major side of politics has committed to, including, the delivery of a Prefabricated and Innovative Housing Summit, a Wood First Policy, a Timber in the Built Environment ACCU method, an extension to the SPEP, along with funding for a public education campaign, among others. The fact that no national debate on forestry policy between the Minister and Shadow Minister could be organised is also very disappointing.
AFPA must also make a special mention of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party that put forward a suite of measures for our sector including, support for Country of Origin labelling, ongoing support for native forestry and plantation establishment grants, development of a National Fire Response Plan for Australia’s forests, a local wood policy, tax incentives to promote timber and National Electricity Market changes to reduce costs for timber manufacturing businesses.
“AFPA will judge the next Federal Government on its delivery of policy and funding for forestry and the forest products supply chain. Our sector requires a strong licence to operate and in-principle backing from the government of the day. That applies whether it’s plantation or native forestry, or the manufacture of different types of essential, climate friendly products. We intend to work closely with all members of the 48th Australian Parliament to ensure government will continue to support one of the nation’s greatest industries,” Diana Hallam concluded.
*To achieve a five star rating, a full commitment to AFPA’s Election Platform would be required. One star recognises broad and in-principle support for forestry and forest products, while for two stars some policy initiatives to help the sector are necessary. Three stars requires additional policy and funding initiatives while four stars can be achieved through commitment to new, innovative and broad industry focused policy and funding.
https://ausfpa.com.au/coalition-provides-the-better-path-for-australian-forestry-and-the-supply-chain-at-2025-federal-election/