Forest Products Industry

The State Government in Victoria has been criticised in State Parliament over what is being seen as frustrating delays to new CFA volunteer recruitment training. Source: Timberbiz The Nationals’ Melina Bath told parliament the Government needed to expedite the ‘General Firefighter’ training course which was being delayed by many months in some areas. “New CFA recruits build capacity in Victoria’s emergency services system and our regional communities desperately need them,” Ms Bath said. “Delaying training by up to five months is unacceptable – it is hard enough to attract new members, clearing volunteers for operational roles must be faster than half a year. “In eastern Victoria the landscape is incredibly dry and the bushfire risk leading into easter remains high. “The Allan Government should not be delaying this critical training – it is essential new volunteers are upskilled to be on the fireground not cooling their heels on the sidelines.” Ms Bath said the survival of regional Victorian communities was intrinsically linked to CFA volunteers who provided a surge capacity workforce. She said that for over a decade Labor had disrespected CFA volunteers. “Many local brigades are struggling with not fit for purpose, substandard facilities and outdated equipment including firefighting trucks that are well past their used by date,” she said. “Labor must engage new trainers and offer more courses to ensure our new recruits are active in their local brigade ready to serve their community.”

The Birpai and Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land councils are working with Forestry Corporation to bring together knowledge of cultural burning with government bushfire management. Source: Timberbiz A fire training camp will be held at Guulabaa – Place of Koala in Cowarra State Forest near Wauchope made possible through Fire, Country and People, a three-year Australian Government-funded project. Fire and incident management specialists Fireground will provide the accredited fire-fighting training to members of the Wauchope and Port Macquarie Aboriginal communities from Monday, 17 March 17 to Thursday, 20 March. Forestry Corporation’s Aboriginal Heritage and Partnerships Manager John Shipp said the fire training will provide participants skills and qualifications in firefighting. “This program creates an opportunity for the Birpai and Bunyah communities to work with government agencies to develop a path forward for effective and sustainable bushfire management combining traditional cultural burning and modern firefighting techniques,” Mr Shipp said. “This will improve the resilience of the community to major bushfires. “The use of fire in the environment is only one aspect of the community’s land management experience which has existed for sixty-odd thousand years,” he said. Fire, Country and People will also help to build the scientific evidence base behind cultural burning. A research program will look to understand the effect that traditional Aboriginal fire practices have on the intensity and extent of bushfires. The $3-million Fire, Country and People: Aboriginal Community Disaster Ready Project has received funding from the Australian Government and is jointly funded by Forestry Corporation.  

Signing of a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) for forestry between New Zealand and India as part of the Prime Minister’s delegation visit to India this week has been welcomed by the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ. Source: Timberbiz “As we look at rebuilding our forestry exports to India, it is important that we develop strong relationships with key Indian agencies,” Mark Ross, Chief Executive of the WPMA said. “Connecting on values and demonstrating a clear focus on mutually beneficial areas of interest will be critical to the Indian Government opening the door to a longer-term trading relationship in forestry products, such as timber and lumber, with New Zealand.” In contrast to what should be happening, New Zealand wood and forest product exports to India have decreased from a high of NZ$326 million in 2019 to an estimated NZ$76.5 million in 2024. Although export opportunities remain for a range of timber and lumber products, the bulk of the export volume and receipts have previously been driven by India’s demand for New Zealand logs. “With a recent ruling from the Indian government stipulating that federal housing schemes include ‘a greater mix’ of wood, there are new opportunities opening, for example, in the Indian residential market for our sustainable wood products,” Mr Ross said. “Under brand New Zealand we have a leading story to tell as to the value our timber and lumber products have in addressing climate change and sustainability challenges, which reflects the direction of the Indian government”. The MOC lays the groundwork for co-operation on areas such as sustainable forest management, research and innovation, capacity building, and certification.  

Victoria’s State Government has been asked what it has done to address the pending firewood supply shortage this winter. Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has accused Environment Minister, Steve Dimopoulos of doing nothing, despite being warned 12 months ago of the predicament. Source: Timberbiz “There are a range of issues that need to be addressed as a result of the cessation of the timber industry, which was the major supplier of domestic firewood. “We barely had enough to get through last winter and commercial suppliers are now importing it from interstate, if they can get it, and the price has sky-rocketed to be unaffordable to low-income households. “The recently opened public collection areas contain nowhere near enough wood to meet demand, but even so, there are many who cannot collect their own including the disabled, frail and elderly. “They have relied on commercial suppliers who now can no longer get it off the timber industry. When they can access it interstate, the increased haulage costs have seen prices skyrocket to unaffordable levels,” he said. “When I raised this over 12 months ago, the Minister’s office simply said collection seasons will continue for the public. It is a Minister and a Government that has no idea about this issue and does not seek to understand. “Sadly, it will likely result in high numbers of illegal collecting as families strive to keep warm. “The one thing we should never be short of in Victoria is firewood, especially in East Gippsland, but this Government has managed to achieve it. “With winter only months away, I have asked the Minister to open up more public collection areas and make resource available to commercial operators in this state. “Because they have done nothing, even timber cut now will be too green for this winter, but they can put some plans in place for next year. “I encourage locals to think ahead and stockpile as much as they can,” he said.

The Australian Forest Products Association has launched the next stages of its 2025 Federal Election Campaign following the release of its comprehensive Australian Timber – Australia’s Future Election Policy Platform in February. Source: Timberbiz “The AFPA team has been busy promoting our Platform, which includes key policy and funding requests, to policy and decision makers across all sides of federal politics over the past few weeks,’’ AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said. ‘’It’s now time to launch the next stages of our campaign to support our Platform,” Ms Hallam said. February’s launch was aimed at illustrating the role Australian timber can play addressing the current housing crisis and supplying our nation’s future housing needs, the importance of securing the future of Australian grown and recycled timber and woodfibre to enhance our sovereign capability and promoting healthy and sustainable native and plantation forestry to provide Australians with the timber they need and fight climate change. This week’s launch included: forestfacts.com.au – a new website dedicated to countering the disinformation being irresponsibly spread about the forestry sector. New Billboards to support the campaign in key forestry battleground electorates, including in Tasmania. “There is a huge amount of disinformation being spread by activists about Australia’s sustainable and world leading forestry sector,’’ Ms Hallam said. “The idea behind forestfacts.com.au is that people interested in the truth about how Australian forestry operates can have somewhere to go to have myths dispelled and find further scientific information, as well as a basic overview of industry. “The Billboards running ahead of the Federal Election show the importance of the timber and forestry industry for homes. They have been placed in strategic locations to maximise public and political awareness of the importance of the full supply chain of Australia’s forestry sector. “AFPA will continue to execute our Federal Election campaign ahead of polling day and work to get all sides of federal politics committed to our Platform.”