The Queensland Government has shown its timber hand, unveiling the Future Timber Plan (QFTP), a “2050 blueprint” it claims will “future-proof” the timber supply needed to build one million or more new homes by 2044. Announced overnight, the new plan sets out a whole-of-supply-chain approach to rebuilding the state’s forestry and timber industry.
In releasing the plan, Tony Perrett, the Gympie-based Primary Industries Minister who has responsiblity for forestry, said it delivers on a key election promise and marks a decisive break from decades of inaction: “The Queensland Future Timber Plan will help rebuild Queensland’s forestry and timber industry to build more homes for Queenslanders,” Perrett said. “We’ve delivered in 12 months what the Labor party failed to deliver for decades, a plan for the future of Queensland’s timber and forestry sector that will secure the timber needed for one million homes by 2044.”
The plan includes a commitment to issue new sales permits in 2026 for State-owned native hardwood supply in forests outside the South East Queensland Regional Plan area. However, Wood Central understands that native timber harvesting will not be reintroduced in state-owned forests within the southeast region, maintaining protections in place for those areas.
Perrett said the plan would provide long-term certainty to an industry that had been “forced into poorly designed, underperforming, and failed programs.” He framed the strategy as a reset for the sector, offering stability and growth opportunities for regional communities and timber producers.
According to Andrew Powell, the Glasshouse Mountains-based Environment and Tourism Minister, the new plan also delivers significant conservation and tourism benefits for the community. “This is a great outcome for conservation and for outdoor tourism and recreation,” Powell said. “It delivers a framework that keeps our forests productive, adds to Queensland’s protected area estate, and opens up opportunities for ecotourism including in forests such as Deongwar.”
New plan has been embraced by the state’s $4b plus timber supply chain
The plan has been welcomed by Timber Queensland, the peak body representing the state’sforest and timber industry. Acting CEO Clarissa Brandt described the strategy as a long-overdue step forward, offering a clear direction for growth, sustainability, and development. “This plan is a major step forward for Queensland’s forest and timber industry,” Brandt said.
“For the first time in decades we have a long-term strategy that recognises the essential role our industry plays in housing, construction, regional jobs and environmental outcomes, setting a clear direction for growth and sustainability.”
Developed through extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, First Nations communities, forest scientists, and the building sector, the plan aligns with the broader Primary Industries Prosper 2050 blueprint. Previously covered by Wood Central, the QFTP will be delivered through a series of five-year action plans designed to evolve with emerging challenges, including housing shortages, market access, and the growing demand for lower-carbon building materials.
“We are pleased to see the Plan’s five core focus areas of supply, supply chain and market, workforce, regulatory framework, and research, development and extension reflect many of the priorities we raised during consultation,” Brandt said, who nonetheless stressed that its implementation would lean on strong collaboration and co-investment between government and industry.
“We take pride in managing healthy forests that deliver lasting economic, social, and cultural value to Queensland communities,” Brandt said. “Looking ahead, we’re enthusiastic about a future shaped through strong collaboration and shared investment between government and industry.”
Brandt said Timber Queensland hoped to see early action on several fronts, including a targeted planting program to expand plantation resources and support downstream processing, long-term crown resource contracts for native hardwood beyond 2026, and the establishment of a world-class, industry-led forestry extension service that partners with private landholders and First Nations communities. She also called for investment in infrastructure, resource recovery, and value-added technologies to boost the international competitiveness of local supply chains, as well as long-term public procurement measures to stabilise market cycles through major projects like the Brisbane Olympics.
Timber Queensland is also urging reforms to reduce sovereign risk and remove policy and financial barriers to plantation and farm forestry investment, including those embedded in the Land Restoration Fund. “This Queensland Future Timber Plan is a strong foundation,” Brandt said. “With the right investment and collaboration, we can ensure Queensland’s most renewable resource continues to deliver for future generation.”
- To learn more about the QFTP, click here to visit the Queensland government’s dedicated website. And to find out why the Queensland government should use timber systems to make the iconic Ekka grounds “games ready” for the 2032 Olympic Games, click here for Woood Central’s special feature.
