The Morrison Government’s plan for a stronger economy will help secure the forestry industry’s 73,000 jobs with a $219.5 million package that invests in new technologies to expand the sector.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as the country tackled building material shortages and uncertainty around global supply chains, the jobs and skills in Australia’s forestry industry in regional areas were critical to a stronger future.
The Prime Minister said under the Liberals and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s, the Government would never support shutdowns of native forestry and would work with state government to create permanent timber production areas.
“Global demand for wood products is set to quadruple by 2050 so this investment in the jobs and future of the forestry industry is critical,” the Prime Minister said.
“The pressures on the building industry and the uncertain international trade situation has made it clear that local wood products and local skills are critical. Just ask any tradie who has been trying to get wood products.
“We can turbocharge this $23 billion industry with the right skills development and the right cutting edge research that our plan delivers.
“Only the Liberals and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s have a plan to secure and grow Australia’s forestry industry as we build a stronger economy and a stronger future.”
The Morrison Government’s plan for forestry includes:
- $100 million to establish an Australia-wide ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Institute for Forest Products Innovation, including a central host hub located in Launceston and up to five regionally-located Centres of Excellence across Australia
- $6.6 million to extend funding for the 11 Regional Forestry Hubs that help local industry and business connect with cutting edge research
- $112.9 million in grants to accelerate adoption of new wood processing technologies in Australia’s manufacturing and processing businesses that will maximise log recovery, process smaller diameter logs and create new and innovative wood products
That plan builds on recent Budget measures including:
- $86.2 million in a new Plantation Establishment Program to help reduce the upfront costs of establishing new plantations and get more trees in the ground in key regions around the country
- $4.4 million to strengthen Australia’s illegal logging system and stop illegal timber imports from undercutting Australian producers
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries and Senator for Tasmania Jonno Duniam said the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Institute for Forest Products Innovation would be centred at the heart of Australia’s forestry industry in northern Tasmania.
“We want to increase our self-reliance when it comes to wood supply and that means more job opportunities, more research and more manufacturing processing right here in Australia,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.
“Instead of importing products from overseas, we want to grow the trees here, process them here and add value to them right here in Australia.
“These investments mean helping our businesses and workers develop new timber products for buildings, turning wood waste into useful materials, and replacing plastics with wood-based bioplastics.
“Our forestry workers and industry are key to successful regional communities around the country and our plan helps deliver a stronger economy for their future.
“On our watch we’ve set up programs to make plantation expansion easier, we’ve invested $40 million to help the sector recover from the Black Summer bushfires, we’ve committed to planting 1 billion trees, and we’ve beefed up our moves to stop illegal timber imports from undercutting Australian producers.
“Australia’s forests aren’t just the basis of a critical industry supporting 73,000 jobs. They also store around 22 billion tonnes of carbon. Our investments are good for jobs and good for the climate.
“Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party have been silent while the Victorian and WA Labor Governments shut down native forestry.
“No matter what they tell you at this election, their actions speak louder than words and they’ll sell out regional communities at the first opportunity.”
