TIMBER SUMMIT TIMELY AS
HOUSE BUILDING INCENTIVES MOUNT

FEDERAL LABOR IS STARTING TO SHOW ITS TRUE COLOURS WITH
ITS TRADITIONAL OPPOSITION TO THE FOREST INDUSTRY

OPINION with CHERYL FORREST

To kick off this month I wanted to lend my support, such as it is, to the upcoming, timely Timber Supply Summit to be held in Melbourne on 29th and 30th of August. This will be a critical event for the timber industry supply chain this year. This is particularly so given initiatives by the Federal and State governments to provide funding and other measures to power charge social and affordable house-building efforts. It is well recognised that Australia is over a million homes short, with expectations that this figure will climb with strong immigration predicted, and record rental shortages only too apparent. Back to the upcoming timber summit in a moment.

Unfortunately, I have to say that the Federal Labor government is starting to show its true colours with its traditional opposition to the forest industry. So, despite commentary by the Prime Minister to assembled industry participants at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra in December 2022 – waxing on about the vital role that the forestry sector was able to play in his net zero carbon emissions ambitions. However, the evidence to date tells a different story.

The Labor government has already restricted the use of native forest residues and hardwood sawmill waste for baseload renewable bioenergy production. And from the Prime Minister down, not even a squeak about the disgraceful decision by the Victorian government to shut down native forest-based hardwood production, and decimate a whole array of dependent businesses and regional communities.

Also apparent from what I hear is that the Minister for Agriculture who also has forestry in his bailiwick has demonstrated a lack of enthusiasm for meeting with peak forest industry organisations, preferring it would appear, to prioritise other areas and in his portfolio rather than dealing with forestry matters.

But returning to the timely timber supply summit – presently a political hot potato – Australia is in the middle of a housing crisis with compelling social goals needing to be addressed with affordable housing targets and the need for investment in lots more rental accommodation. However, simple logic, you can’t build affordable, price-competitive homes without structural timber to make house frames and trusses. And what about hardwood timber supplies?

So, the Melbourne timber summit will be an essential gathering for the industry to provide some answers to where the softwood and hardwood timber products will be sourced to meet predicted demand and the political imperative to build a lot more houses quick smart!

I am told that registrations for the timber summit are already above expectations so get in to reserve a remaining chair. Might see you there. To register for the conference, click here

Cheryl