Albanese Labor government delivering more grants to grow Australia’s sustainable timber supply

The Albanese Labor Government is helping the forestry industry meet growing demand for domestically sourced sustainable timber, with more than $2.3 million announced today in the latest batch of plantation grants.

The Albanese Labor Government supports sustainable forestry, and is investing in forest industry innovation, manufacturing and skills.

The Government is delivering the most significant forest industry support package in Australia's history, including around $300 million to help improve the capacity and capability of the sector.

The Support Plantation Establishment program is providing grant funding to help establish up to 36,000 hectares of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests across Australia.

The funds will support the establishment of 5 new plantations in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.

The grant recipients will establish a mix of softwood and hardwood plantations totalling over 1,200 hectares.

These 5 new projects are in addition to 41 others worth $26.2 million. Total funding through the program now exceeds $28.5 million since the first grants were announced in 2023. 

Approximately 15,000 hectares of new plantations have now been approved for establishment across the country. 

Round three of the program is open for applications until 5 November 2025 with the government providing up to $2,000 per hectare of new long-rotation plantation forest established to eligible projects.

For more information or to apply, visit GrantConnect.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:

“Demand for timber is expected to grow in the coming decades.

“That’s why over 14,500 hectares of new hardwood and softwood plantations will be established throughout Australia as part of the Support Plantation Establishment program.

“There is still time to apply for grant funding to establish new plantations. The current batch of applications are open to 8 May, and the final application deadline for this round is 5 November with all projects needing to be delivered by 30 June 2027.

“This support is important as Australia’s plantation forest estate has been in decline for over a decade.

“Action now will increase Australia’s future timber supply and mitigate against our future dependence on imported timber.”