Shaping the future of forestry through new Timber Fibre Strategy

The Albanese Labor Government is today releasing the Timber Fibre Strategy which sets out a pathway for the future growth of Australia’s proud forestry industry.

The Timber Fibre Strategy sets out 128 ambitious actions for industry and governments to help build a sustainable, world leading sector with products that are in demand domestically and internationally.

The Strategy’s development was led by the Albanese Labor Government’s Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership and guided by close consultation across the forestry sector.

The Timber Fibre Strategy charts a course for the forestry industry to embrace the future and help solve challenges facing the forestry industry, and the nation.

A key opportunity identified in the Strategy is for the forestry sector to play a bigger role in tackling Australia’s housing challenges and delivering on the Government’s ambitious housing agenda.

The Albanese Labor Government is investing $300 million in the future of the forestry industry, which includes:

• Over $100 million for transformative research, development and innovation for the timber industry through Australian Forest and Wood Innovations,
• Over $100 million to support the medium and long-term sustainability of our wood processing sector through the Accelerate Adoption of Wood Processing Innovation program,
• Over $73 million to expand Australia’s future wood supply through the Support Plantation Establishment program, and $10 million in the industry’s training needs through the Forestry Workforce Training Program.

The Government will work closely with the industry, and with states and territories, to respond to the Strategy.

The Timber Fibre Strategy is available at: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry/industries/strategic-forest-and-renewable-materials-partnership/timber-fibre-strategy.  

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

“Our forest products sector has a unique opportunity to provide sustainable, high-quality, carbon-sequestering products that Australians need.

“The Albanese Labor Government is investing $300 million into the long-term future of Australia’s forestry sector.

"This investment is already delivering on some of the objectives outlined in the Strategy, but our Government understands there is more that can be done.

“I’m excited to use the Timber Fibre Strategy to work with the industry, and with states and territories, to maximise the benefits of this investment, and to leverage other opportunities across government to lift the productivity of the forestry sector.

“I have already provided a copy of the Timber Fibre Strategy to Australian Forest and Wood Innovations and will work continue to work with them to make sure the Strategy helps guide the government’s $100 million investment in transformative research for the sector.

“I have also provided the Strategy to my federal and state and territory colleagues to make sure forestry can play a constructive role in building more houses, lifting productivity and achieving net zero.”

Quotes attributable to Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership co-chairs Mr Stephen Dadd and Mr Michael O’Connor:

“The Timber Fibre Strategy is the result of detailed work with forestry leaders across industry, unions, research organisations, government officials and community groups.

“The forestry industry has told us it wants to help solve some of the problems facing Australia. From housing to net zero, the Strategy sets out actions for industry and governments to use sustainable, carbon-sequestering forest products to build houses and lift productivity.

“The Strategy sets a vision for our entire industry, from managing a healthy and expanding forest estate to a diverse and productive manufacturing sector.