Timber workers, forest scientists and the total value chain for forest products are putting a unified case to the NSW Government this week — and are now pushing for the Minns government to extend wood supply agreements, introduce new procurement mandates and invest in a serious skills pipeline for jobs — or risk losing the regional industry underpinning thousands of jobs across the state.
Today, Wood Central spoke to Alison Rudman, the NSW Secretary of the TFTU – Australia’s only union “laser focused” on timber workers, who is joining members at an 18-19 March roundtable along with employment groups, forest scientists and industry bodies in what the union says is a united front and a strong show of support for a multi-billion dollar industry now under threat.
“Timber workers are proud of the role they play in regional communities, and they want to see a strong future for the industry,” Rudman said. “This roundtable is about bringing workers, employers and experts together to focus on real solutions that protect jobs and support sustainable forestry.”
The union’s position is that NSW-grown timber should be prioritised in government construction — housing, infrastructure and public buildings — while wood supply agreements need to be extended and the state needs to start treating skills investment as structural policy, not an afterthought. Rudman said demand certainty was as critical as supply.
“The NSW timber industry supports thousands of regional jobs and provides essential materials for housing, construction and infrastructure,” she said. “Government policy should back local timber, local jobs and local manufacturing.”
And it should follow the established forest science, too. “The roundtable has provided an opportunity for Forestry Australia – the professional body for forest scientists, and other bodies to engage with officials to highlight the importance of responsible forest management to sustainable economies and communities,” according to Emily Post, who is representing Australia’s 1,000-strong forest scientists and forest growers.
Wood Central can reveal that both the softwood and hardwood sectors were at the table, with Carlie Porteous from the Softwoods Working Group and Mike Radda, CEO of ForestWorks, among those making valuable contributions.
Timber NSW President Andrew Hurford — who represented the $3 billion supply chain for NSW native hardwoods — said the breadth of voices in the room was itself a signal — and came as Wood Central reported that Timber NSW was pressing the Premier directly on the future of the state’s hardwoods.
“It was great to have so many people from different parts of the industry working toward the same goal,” Hurford said. “There are significant common interests such as wood supply agreements, backing good jobs and skilled workers for a secure and sustainable industry.”
The roundtable also put the timber sector’s role in fire and land management on the table — a contribution Rudman said was routinely undercounted in government conversations but fundamental to how regional NSW manages its landscapes. Rudman said the discussions would feed directly into the union’s advocacy with the government in the months ahead. The TFTU is the only union in Australia dedicated solely to workers across timber, furnishing and textiles.
“Our members want secure jobs, strong regional communities and a sustainable timber industry for the future,” she said. “That means government backing the workers and businesses who grow, harvest and process timber here in New South Wales.”
Please note: Wood Central will have additional coverage from the roundtable tomorrow.
