Ahead of the 2025 Federal Election, Australia’s forestry and timber sector reminds the members of the 47th Parliament and candidates hoping to be elected to the 48th Parliament that it can help ease the national housing crisis and build the homes of tomorrow. The reminder comes at the same time new figures show the country fell almost 70,000 new homes short of its 2024 target, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Diana Hallam said today.
“Following the building boom spurred by COVID and subsequent downturn, Australia’s timber manufacturers have timber ready now to help build the new homes our country needs. Not only is our locally grown and processed timber a quality building material, but it also stores carbon, helping Australia fight climate change,” Diana Hallam said.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Australia fell 68,606 homes short of its 2024, 240,000 target – with detached housing approvals falling 2.8 per cent in December.
“As the Federal Election draws closer – Australia needs policy solutions on the table that will help drive construction of the new homes Australia needs for the future. When you use Australian timber to build those homes the benefits multiply quickly. You’re using a local and quality product that harnesses local industry and workforces – with many located in regional communities. You then have the added benefit of significant carbon storage in the home and structural timber is a far more climate-friendly construction material than energy-intensive steel or bricks,” Diana Hallam said.
Last year AFPA launched in conjunction with Master Builders Australia (MBA) How Timber Can Help Solve Australia’s Housing Crisis – showing the local forestry and timber sector’s capacity to help build 50,000 new homes annually. That capacity remains and stands ready and waiting with recent figures showing local structural sawn softwood sales at a nine-year low in 2023-24.
“Our sector has the product ready to go to build new homes. We do however require effective national, state and local government policy to help boost the construction sector and encourage an uptick in building new homes with timber products,” Diana Hallam said.
“AFPA will continue working with both the Albanese Government, Coalition and key crossbenchers in the Parliament to ensure as much of our wonderful home grown, sustainable timber goes into Australia’s new homes of tomorrow, supporting local economies, communities and helping fight climate change,” Diana Hallam concluded.
