The NSW Labor Party has supported a motion put forward by the CFMEU Manufacturing Division, which, with the support of Unions NSW, has pledged to support the state’s timber industry, an expansion of plantation estate and, crucially, extends support for the native forest industry “that creates rural, regional jobs and further down the supply chain in NSW.”
That is according to a delegate at the NSW Labor Annual State Conference, which was held over the weekend of March 27-28, 2024, and provided Wood Central with exclusive coverage from the conference floor.
It comes as Wood Central revealed that the powerful Labor Environment Action Network (or LEAN) supported a motion (Motion 85) that would have significant implications for the future of the hardwood industry, not just in New South Wales but across Australia.
Wood Central understands that the motion—which has now been heavily retracted—was part of several oppositional motions debated by branches, pushing for the immediate closure of native forestry and immediate transition to 100% plantation.
“As I understand, the ALP NSW policy becomes binding on the members and the parliamentary wing,” according to Maree McCaskill, CEO of Timber NSW – the body representing the largest number of companies and businesses in native forestry state-wide.
“Reports are that over 800 delegates attended the Sydney Town Hall two-day conference where debates were hotly contested,” according to the conference delegate providing Wood Central with live updates.
It comes as native forestry has become a hot-button political issue, with the Australian Labor Party’s left-wing pushing for the party to address vote leakage to the Greens. Following the election of the Chris Minns government in NSW last year, the ALP now holds the federal government and the Queensland, Victoria, WA, South Australia, ACT and NT governments.
“We should have the updated NSW ALP policy in a couple of days,” according to Ms McCaskill.
- Wood Central will continue to provide updates from the NSW Labor Annual State Conference.