Less than 24 hours before the Queensland state election – which has seen the sitting Labor government close the gap on the LNP opposition, the $4 billion Queensland timber industry has released a five-point plan to support the essential timber supply chains to meet its growing housing and construction needs.
“For too long, the industry has simply been taken for granted, and this election represents an opportunity to make a significant difference in putting the industry back in the forefront of strategic economic development,” said Mick Stephens, Timber Queensland’s longtime CEO.
Queensland’s population is now bursting at the seams and will need “more timber to meet future housing and construction demand, including for our homes, schools, hospitals, apartments and offices.
Mick Stephens, CEO of Timber Queensland speaking ahead of the release of the five-point plan.
“The good news is that with the right policy settings and provision of resource security, the industry can invest in more forest resources and new plant and equipment together with skilled jobs to meet the rising demand for building materials such as timber.”
The five key themes of the plan include:
- Resource security for the native hardwood sector
- New investment drivers for plantations and farm forestry
- Wood processing innovation and supply chain efficiency
- Workforce development and training, and
- Indigenous forestry opportunities.
Mr Stephens said that the timber industry has historically been the backbone of many regional communications and the state’s housing and public infrastructure development: “We are passionate and committed to working with government, stakeholders and industry for sustained growth. We care about our industry, people, environment and future.”
The five-point plan comes just weeks after the industry was “stabbed in the back” over a 54,000-hectare Glider Plan, leading Timber Queensland to accuse the Labor government of “pulling off an election stunt.”
Timber Queensland has criticised the Government for ignoring its timber policy.
Last month, Wood Central spoke to a spokesperson from the group who accused the state government of “appeasing environmental activists with scant regard for its timber policy, environmentally sound land management and the many regional communities and thousands of people dependent on the timber industry.”
The commitment comes after Wood Central revealed that Steven Miles, Queensland’s Premier and Cameron Dick, Treasurer, will invest $200m as part of the 30-year Queensland Sustainable Timber Industry Framework.
“I know how important Queensland’s timber industry is to our state’s housing and building sectors,” said Bruce Saunders, Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development and Jobs: “That’s why the Miles Labor Government is supporting timber workers and the industry in continuing to build our state while increasing our protected area estate.”
- Click here to download the Timber Queensland election policy statement.
