Albanese Labor Government supporting expansion of Australia's forestry plantations

The Albanese Labor Government is supporting a Future Made in Australia, with 15 new forestry plantation projects to share in $19 million.

Funded through Round 3 of the Support Plantation Establishment program, the projects will help establish new plantations in NSW, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and, for the first time, the Northern Territory.

This will support expanding our sustainable domestic construction and manufacturing timber resources, contribute to Australia’s carbon emission reduction targets, and support regional communities through the retention and creation of regional jobs.

The new projects are in addition to 45 existing projects already funded through the program, taking total funding awarded to date to more than $46 million.

This brings the total area of new plantations supported by the program to around 25,000 hectares, delivering more opportunities and support for Australia’s forestry sector.

The more than $73 million program supports the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests in Australia, helping the sector to respond to the projected growth in demand for domestically sourced timber supply.

It is part of the Albanese Labor Government’s broader $300 million investment in the future of sustainable forestry, from research and development through to workforce training.

Applications for Round 3, Batch 5 of the Support Plantation Establishment program are open until 24 September 2025 for private industry, First Nations businesses, farm foresters and state and territory government forestry bodies to establish new plantations.

For more information, including a list of the successful projects and case studies on existing grantees, visit: www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry/industries/support-plantation-establishment-program    

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

“The Albanese Labor Government is delivering for our forestry sector, with $300 million to help improve the sector’s capacity and capability.

“The action we are taking now will support a Future Made in Australia, increasing our domestic timber supply and reducing our future dependence on import timber markets.

“This 25,000 hectares of new plantations will assist in growing the timber that is needed for our future, including for more housing.

“These projects will create new opportunities for our forestry sector, unlocking more jobs in our regions and helping to strengthen regional economies.”