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Julie Collins Replaces Murray Watt as Aussie Forestry Minister

New Minister has a busy portfolio.


Mon 29 Jul 24

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Australia has a new Forestry Minister after Julie Collins, who served as Shadow Minister for Agriculture, replaced Minister Murray Watt – now taking the busy Workplace Relations portfolio – in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s latest cabinet reshuffle.

Minister Collins, who served as Australia’s Minister for Housing and Homelessness, is a member of the Labor left faction and, from 2006 to 2007, served as secretary of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Labor Party – an excellent background to tackle forestry’s challenges, according to Diana Hallam, the Australian Forest Product Association CEO.

“We welcome Minister Julie Collins back to the forestry portfolio,” Ms Hallam said, adding that as a Tasmanian, “Minister Collins also appreciates the value of our native, plantation and downstream manufacturing cogs in the forestry sector.”

Minister Collins’s two years of experience in the Housing portfolio—and in working to deliver Prime Minister Albanese’s 1.2 million housing target over the next five years—means that she is aware of the many challenges and opportunities facing the $24 billion, 52,000 strong forest products industry and its connection to residential construction.

According to Ms Hallam, “Minister Collins comes directly from the Housing portfolio and understands the critical connection between forestry, timber, and climate-friendly housing.”

Joining Minister Collins is Senator Anthony Chisholm, a member of the Queensland Right, who is continuing as Assistant Minister for Regional Development: “Forest industries are critical to these national and international policy issues. Under new Minister Collins and Assistant Minister Chisholm, we look forward to working further with the Albanese Government on the role our sector can play,” Ms Hallam said.

Australia’s New Forest Plan: Takeaways from’ 24/25 Budget

The announcement comes after the Albanese government pledged to develop a new forestry plan, A Future Grown in Australia: A Better Plan for Forestry and Forestry Products, and review the 1992 National Forestry Policy Statement as part of the 2024/25 Federal Budget.

In addition, the ministers may need to work with industry and the Albanese cabinet to understand how forestry will fit within the country’s new Nature Positie Laws and the COP15 commitment to ’30×30’—which calls for the effective protection and management of 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by 2030.

Author

  • Jason Ross

    Jason Ross, publisher, is a 15-year professional in building and construction, connecting with more than 400 specifiers. A Gottstein Fellowship recipient, he is passionate about growing the market for wood-based information. Jason is Wood Central's in-house emcee and is available for corporate host and MC services.

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