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For decades, the industry has leaned toward a particular kind of beauty in timber — clean, consistent, controlled. Somewhere along the way, we started asking wood to behave like plastic: predictable, polished, and repeatable. But real timber doesn’t work like that. And that’s exactly why it’s worth choosing. Sources: Timberbiz, Crafted Hardwoods We don’t need another material that looks like everything else. We need materials that feel real. That carry weight. That tell a story. Timber isn’t beautiful in spite of its character. It’s beautiful because of it. Those veins, knots and tonal shifts aren’t defects; they’re evidence. Of growth. Of seasons. Of something alive. Designers love character. Texture. Uniqueness. But when it comes to timber, despite the industry’s appetite for individuality, the spec sheet often defaults to Select. But the pursuit of perfection doesn’t come cheap. When Select becomes the gold standard, anything that falls outside that narrow visual ideal gets sidelined as inferior. That creates real consequences — especially in Australia. It limits how much of our timber can be used in premium applications, drives up costs, and adds unnecessary complexity to sourcing and processing. And it reinforces an aesthetic that doesn’t reflect the diversity of our native forests or the future of sustainable design. In parts of the world like North America or Russia, where timber comes from vast, even-aged forests, uniformity is easier to achieve. But Australian hardwoods tell a different story. Our native hardwoods are shaped by our unique climate and ecology. That means Select Grade, with its demand for visual uniformity, is genuinely rare here. And that’s not a flaw — it’s a reflection of the landscape, and an opportunity to work with materials that embody authenticity and resilience. Much of the timber used in interiors and joinery is appearance-graded — assessed purely on looks, not performance. Under AS 2796, boards are sorted into Select, Standard, or Feature Grade based on surface features like knots, veins, and colour variation. The issue? Under AS 2796, Select Grade sits at the peak — not because it’s stronger or more durable, but because it’s the cleanest. It’s timber with the least visible variation: no knots, no gum veins, no colour shifts. In other words, timber that looks the least like a tree. But here’s the thing: Select Grade doesn’t mean the most durable, sustainable, or practical choice. It’s just the one that fits a narrow visual ideal. And yet, it’s become the default “premium.” It’s what’s specified, stocked, and expected often without a second thought. But when the entire system is built around chasing visual perfection, it leaves a lot of good timber behind. Grading happens early in the supply chain usually at the mill, right after the timber is sawn. But what gets graded as “valuable” is shaped much further down the line. Specifiers might be downstream of grading, but their preferences influence what’s considered valuable upstream. If Select is always in demand, mills will push to meet that spec, even if it means discarding usable material. The reality? Only a small fraction of milled hardwood meets the strict visual criteria for Select. In prioritising visual purity, we’ve created a system that undervalues the vast majority of what our forests can actually provide. Grading expectations don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re shaped by local species and forestry practices. In regions like the US, Canada, or Russia, large, even-aged forests, often dominated by softwoods, make it easier to achieve visual uniformity and produce high volumes of Select Grade timber. Australia tells a different story. Our native hardwoods grow slowly, develop dense grain, and naturally show more variation. As a result, Select Grade timber — especially at scale — is genuinely scarce here. So, if you’re specifying Select in an Australian hardwood species, just know: you’re asking for the rarest slice of the log. Not stronger, not more durable — just smoother looking, and a whole lot harder to come by. It’s easy to point to the grading system as the issue. But standards don’t exist in a vacuum — they respond to what the market demands. The way timber is graded, processed, sold, and specified is deeply interconnected. And when it comes to appearance-grade hardwoods, our Standard reflects long-held assumptions about what timber should look like. But those assumptions didn’t appear out of nowhere. They’ve been shaped over decades by consumer preferences, commercial pressures, and imported ideals often from places where Select Grade is more easily sourced due to different species or forestry practices. Australia isn’t geared for large-scale Select Grade production. Yet the pressure to meet the aesthetic persists — to the point where Select Grade material must be imported to satisfy expectations, rather than drawing on the unique material we already have. If the standard isn’t serving our forests or our future maybe it’s time to ask: who is it serving?  Change doesn’t start in the forest. It starts in the spec. Not because specifiers caused the problem, but because they hold so much potential to shift it. Every material choice sends a message upstream: to mills, processors, and even forest managers. When Select is the only grade requested, the entire system adapts to deliver it — often at the expense of yield, efficiency, and the natural character of Australian timber. But the tide is turning. We’re seeing a quiet but powerful shift in how visual grading is understood. FWPA’s G02 Standard for Recycled Timber, for example, embraces the idea that natural variation is not a flaw but a feature. While it’s not a replacement for AS 2796 and applies specifically to recycled timber, it’s an important signal: there’s appetite for more realistic, inclusive frameworks that better reflect the diversity of our local hardwoods. By specifying differently — and daring to value the character others overlook — designers and builders have the power to reshape what’s considered “premium.” It’s not about compromise. It’s about rethinking the rules and making room for materials that reflect the real beauty of our forests. If you specify timber, you […]

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Responsible Wood recently participated in the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), with the global event providing an ideal platform to highlight the credibility of Australian-certified timber and showcase the people and processes bringing those standards to life. Source: Timberbiz Held in Brisbane with members of the Responsible Wood team and the board in attendance, WCTE provided a unique opportunity to speak directly with engineers, architects, researchers, and other domestic and international specifiers and decision-makers about the importance of third-party certification in meeting climate, compliance, and procurement goals. Responsible Wood’s presence reinforced the value of Australia’s PEFC-endorsed system and its alignment with global best practice, with both CEO Simon Dorries and Sustainability Manager Matt de Jongh presenting at the event. Advancing Sustainable Timber Management: The Role of Responsible Wood Certification was Mr de Jongh’s presentation that focused on the transformative potential of Responsible Wood certification in promoting sustainable forest management within the timber industry. By adhering to globally recognised standards, Responsible Wood ensures that forest products positively impact both the environment and society. Aligning with Mr de Jongh’s earlier session, Mr Dorries presented on the marketing of timber design and construction, outlining systems for verifying sustainable management and origin of timber products and introducing project certification, where a verified sustainability claim can be made on the timber elements of a completed project. These approaches combine to support unimpeded marketing of and greater confidence in sustainably sourced timber as a building material. His presentation also included an update on recent developments to ensure compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation. Together, the presentations helped underline the importance of robust, transparent certification in delivering real-world impact: not just for forest managers and product manufacturers, but for designers, builders, and policymakers working toward low-carbon, responsibly sourced outcomes. The event also gave opportunity for the Responsible Wood Board to come together, meeting to discuss key priorities while taking inspiration from the global perspectives being shared across the five days. Conversations throughout the event helped reinforce that certification provides credible, independently verified assurance that timber products meet sustainability and responsible sourcing expectations – building trust with specifiers, procurement teams, and end-users. It was also an opportunity to showcase the outstanding work being done by certification holders and providers. In meeting rigorous standards, these organisations and operators are helping further enhance the credibility of Australian certified products, and the trust with which end users can approach locally grown or endorsed forest products.

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After months of collaboration and input from forest owners, contractors and forest industry leaders, the revised Forestry Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) will be formally launched on Tuesday 26 August in Palmerston North. Source: Timberbiz The new ACOP has been significantly updated from the 2012 version to align with the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA), shifting from a prescriptive rule-based format to a risk-based approach. It also clarifies how safety responsibilities are shared across the sector using familiar Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) concepts. The launch event, a Spotlight on Safety, can be attended by anyonein the forest growing industry; especially contractors, forest owners and managers and industry stakeholders involved in safety, training and operational leadership. Forest owners are also encouraged to invite their harvesting and silviculture crews. The ACOP launch marks an important milestone in forestry’s health and safety journey. Input from those working on the ground and dealing with these challenges every day will be vital for its success. What to expect: Official launch of the revised Forestry Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) – 3pm Keynote address from Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden Launch of the new Best Practice Guidelines for Health and Safety in Small Forests Introduction of the concept of a Forest Industry Health & Safety Charter Networking event The event will be held on Tuesday 26 August from 3pm to 4pm at the Orlando Country Club in Newbury, Palmerston North and it will be followed by a networking event from 4pm to 6pm. You must register with the FICA to attend. The event is a collaborative effort delivered by the Forest Industry Safety Council, Forest Industry Contractors Association, the NZFOA, the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association and WorkSafe.

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Skills Insight has appointed Dugald Murray as its new Chief Executive Officer following an extensive national recruitment process. Mr Murray is a values-driven CEO with more than 20 years’ experience in strategic leadership, governance and stakeholder engagement. Source: Timberbiz Mr Murray has led complex, government-funded and industry-led organisations, with a passion for shaping systems that support workers and industry. He will formally commence in the role of CEO on 7 October 2025. Mr Murray’s background spans senior roles including CEO of the Victorian TAFE Association; Director, Strategic Advice and Collaboration at the Victorian Skills Authority; Executive Director at the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Chief of Staff to the Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water; and Senior Advisor to the Commonwealth Attorney General and the Victorian Minister for Industry, Energy and Resources. “I’m honoured to be joining Skills Insight and to work with a group of industries that are vital to Australia’s communities, ecosystems and prosperity,” Mr Murray said. “I look forward to working closely with the Board, staff, partners and stakeholders to build on the organisation’s work in strengthening skills and training outcomes that benefit industry, and all stakeholders in and around the VET sector.” Mr Murray succeeds Michael Hartman, who announced his intention to step down from the CEO role in February 2025. Chair of Skills Insight’s Board, Todd Loydell said the Board is delighted to welcome Mr Murray as the new CEO. He also recognised the significant contribution Mr Hartman has made to the skills and training system over the past 24 years, serving as CEO through various iterations of the national skills system, as it evolved under different structures and priorities. “On behalf of the Board and staff at Skills Insight, I want to sincerely thank Michael for his exceptional leadership of the organisation over the years. He founded Skills Impact in 2015 and went on to lead the establishment of Skills Insight in 2022, guiding the organisation through its formative period and early achievements,” said Mr Loydell. “We are thrilled to welcome Dugald Murray to lead Skills Insight into its next chapter. His strategic leadership and experience in government and stakeholder engagement will be invaluable as we continue to support meaningful workforce development for industry.”  

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Home building materials have continued to experience only modest cost increases, up by 1.6% in the 2024/25 financial year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Producer Price Index (PPI) series for the June quarter 2025, which covers input costs for a range of industries including mining, manufacturing and housing construction. Source: Timberbiz HIA Senior Economist Maurice Tapang said prices of home building materials had grown at a slower rate than other goods and services, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). “Materials prices have been growing at an annual rate below two% for over two years now,” he said. “The cost of building materials rose rapidly due to supply chain disruptions and have eased as markets have been allowed to operate. “Despite the slowing in the cost of building materials, the cost of building a new home continues to increase.” Mr Tapang said that the average cost of a new detached house approved in Australia had increased by 4.8% in 2024/25 to $492,410. The increase reported by the ABS PPI data did not reflect the additional costs added to new home construction through additional regulatory imposts. “The relatively more rapid rise in the cost of the average value of a house approval reflects not just changes in consumer preferences, but also due to the additional costs due to the introduction of the National Construction Code 2022 and additional taxes,” Mr Tapang said. “If Australia were to address the housing affordability challenge, governments need to look at reducing the regulatory burdens they impose on new homes.” By material type, the largest price increases in 2024/25 were seen in copper pipes and fittings, up by 13.9%. This was followed by electrical cable and conduit (+8.3%), fibrous cement products (+7.5%), ready mixed concrete (+5.7%) and timber doors (+5.2%).  

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More than 70 guests including Ministers, Shadow Ministers, MPs, CEOs and industry stakeholders gathered at Parliament House in Victoria for ‘Timber in July’, a showcase of the growing importance of Victoria’s plantation and wood fibre industry to the state’s economy, housing supply and climate goals. Source: Timberbiz Hosted by the Victorian Forest Products Association, the annual event highlighted the industry’s critical role in sustainable construction, regional jobs, and advanced manufacturing, with strong bipartisan engagement across the political spectrum. Speaking at the event were both the Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence, and the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, signalling shared political support for the future of timber and wood fibre in Victoria. VFPA CEO Andrew White said the bipartisan support at the function demonstrated the growing momentum behind the industry’s efforts to address some of the state’s biggest challenges including housing shortages, climate change and regional economic development. “It’s encouraging to see genuine cross-party support for the plantation and wood fibre industry,” Mr White said. “This is an industry that’s ready to help deliver more homes, cut carbon emissions, and support advanced manufacturing jobs in Victoria—particularly in our regional communities,” he said. Mr White said the announcement by Ms Spence of funding more Trees on Farms was also a welcome step forward. The new program is offering grants of up to $80,000 for landholders to plant trees on their property – providing long term solutions including boosting shade and shelter for livestock, improving stock and crop production, offsetting carbon emissions or generating income through carbon credits. Landholders will also be able to generate additional income through timber production, including from harvested wood products or use the timber for on-farm uses such as firewood and fence posts. An additional grants program – the Trees on Farms Incubator Program – is offering planting service providers and forestry professionals up to $50,000 to support landowners who might be contemplating planting trees on their property. This service will help landowners develop tailored, implementation-ready project plans to align with their property and planting goals, while providing education, training and upskilling for tree planting and management activities. “We’re pleased to see a growing recognition of the role that farmers and agroforestry can play in supporting sustainable timber supply, improving farm productivity and delivering environmental outcomes,” Mr White said. “With the right policy settings and incentives, integrating trees into farming systems can provide a win-win for agriculture, regional communities and the environment.” At the event, guests had the opportunity to hear directly from the CEOs of Victoria’s leading plantation managers and timber manufacturers, explore engineered wood products and wood samples, and experience the latest in construction technology through VR headsets demonstrating timber-built housing. “Whether it’s new housing, bioproducts like low-carbon fuels, carbon markets or sustainable packaging, the opportunities for growth in the wood fibre sector are enormous—and today showed that Victoria’s political leaders recognise this,” Mr White said. VFPA thanked all parliamentarians for their support and acknowledged the strong attendance from both Government and Opposition members, as well as Independents and Legislative Council representatives. The event also celebrated the value of ongoing government investment in plantation expansion, fire protection, and research and development—while calling for continued collaboration to reduce regulatory barriers and enable future growth. “Timber in July is a reminder that smart policy and long-term vision can unlock major benefits for Victoria’s economy and environment,” Mr White said.  “We look forward to working with all parties to realise that vision.”

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