Australia’s only union dedicated to timber workers, the Timber, Furnishing, and Textiles Union (TFTU), has welcomed sweeping reforms that will strengthen the powers of the Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC), enabling it to respond more effectively to sudden import surges that threaten local jobs and industries.
The reform comes at a critical time, amid escalating global trade instability, chronic oversupply, and the redirection of goods—including pulp, paper, and timber—from the U.S. into the Australian market. “This move sends a clear signal that the Australian Government has the backs of Australian industry and Australian workers,” said Travis Wacey, who represents the TFTU on the Government’s International Trade Remedies Forum. “In an uncertain global environment, we must be ready to respond to sudden import surges that could wipe out entire industries and workforces.”
“Australia’s manufacturing sector has shown resilience through globalisation and COVID, but we need the government to defend our global trade rights to meet the challenges of today’s unprecedented conditions. This is a strong start.”
Wood Central understands the ADC’s expanded remit builds on its existing role of investigating unfair trade practices and supporting Australia’s economic interests. The new function will be transferred from the Productivity Commission, which has historically conducted safeguard investigations only infrequently.
The TFTU has long advocated for this reform, working in partnership with the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), the ACTU, and a broad coalition of industry stakeholders.
“Our industries are in the firing line in this age of trade uncertainty — with global furniture, paper, timber, textiles, clothing and footwear suppliers to the US already eyeing new markets, including Australia, which may lead to disruptive and intermittent import surges,” Wacey said. “Today’s announcement is essential to defending Australia’s sovereign and critical manufacturing capabilities, and it marks a core plank of good industry policy.”
