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Tasmania’s Business, Industries and Resource Minister Felix Ellis says the State Government is committed to the forestry industry ahead of changes to federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) laws. Source: Timberbiz The reforms remove the long-standing exemption for Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs). Starting July 1, 2027, forestry operations will require full EPBC assessment and must comply with upcoming National Environmental Standards. The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) says the new Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) laws, negotiated between the Federal Government and the Australian Greens, will not achieve improved environmental outcomes in Australia’s native forests but instead undermine the future of Australia’s world-class and sustainable native forest industry. The Mercury in Hobart reports that the Tasmanian government is being urged by the Wilderness Society, the Greens and independent MPs to halt the signing of new long-term native forest logging contracts ahead of the changes to federal environment laws and what they claim is a looming shortage of native saw log supply. But The Mercury reports that the government remains steadfastly committed to the forestry industry with Mr Ellis saying that the Federal Government said, “these changes will not end the industry, including in meetings held in Canberra last week”. “The Wilderness Society are barking up the wrong tree again,” Mr Ellis said. “Unlike the Victorian Labor State government, which spent $1.5 billion of taxpayer money to shut down regional jobs, here in Tasmania, we back in the native forestry sector. “We want to deliver certainty, and so, of course, we’re looking to sign long-term contracts, so that businesses can invest in the future of their people and their plants. “The federal government has told us that its environmental laws won’t end native forestry,” Mr Ellis said. “They need to, of course, guarantee that no forestry businesses in Tasmania will be worse off, and we’ll be holding them to account. “But it’s time to deliver the certainty that our forestry businesses need; timber for the future, jobs for the future, and investment for the future.”

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The Green Triangle’s fire detection camera network has again proven critical in protecting communities, plantations and landscapes, delivering rapid identification of unplanned fires and enabling swift suppression during a season marked by elevated fire risk. Source: Timberbiz Despite a dry, fuel-laden summer following green drought conditions, the Green Triangle Fire Alliance (GTFA) managed camera network detected 15 unplanned fires across the south-west of Victoria during the 2025/26 fire season. All were contained quickly, with early detection allowing firefighting resources to be deployed before fires could escalate. Most detections occurred on agricultural land (11), with two identified along roadsides and two in native vegetation, highlighting the cameras’ ability to monitor a broad and varied landscape in real time. GTFA General Manager Anthony Walsh said the network’s effectiveness relied on its ability to provide immediate, reliable intelligence to fire agencies and forest fire management teams. “The seven strategically located camera sites give us instant 360-degree visibility across the south-west landscape, often detecting smoke before a fire is reported from the ground,” Mr Walsh said. “That time advantage is critical, it allows crews to be dispatched earlier, when fires are smaller, easier to control, and far less likely to threaten plantations or communities.” GTFA Chair Andrew Matheson said the Dergholm fire, near Sandy Gate Track, in early February demonstrated the cameras’ operational value on a high fire risk day. “The Dergholm camera site provided the first point of detection, triggering immediate deployment to a fire burning close to both softwood and hardwood plantations,” Mr Matheson said. “Without that early detection, the outcome on a day like that could have been very different.” Victorian Forest Products Association CEO Andrew White said the cameras were a cornerstone of the region’s fire management approach, which includes sharing surveillance data with the CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria, complementing traditional fire tower operators. “Early detection is one of the most important factors in keeping fires small, and the camera network gives the Green Triangle a decisive advantage,” Mr White said. “It allows crews to respond immediately, with accurate location and situational awareness, rather than losing valuable time confirming reports from the ground. It ensures the right appliances can be deployed rapidly.” While Victoria recorded 46 unplanned fires during the 2024/25 season, largely due to widespread lightning events, 40 were recorded in 2023/24, both largely on public land. These detections were reported up to six minutes before other sources. Mr White said whilst hundreds of alerts were received each season, the accuracy of detections continued to improve as the AI became more sophisticated from learnt surveillance data. “These results show what’s possible when you invest in technology that works,” Mr White said. “The cameras don’t replace people, they empower them, and that’s what has kept fires small and impacts low in the Green Triangle.” The GTFA Victorian fire camera network includes cameras at Dergholm, Lake Mundi, Digby, Dartmoor, Rennick, Nelson, and Hicks Hill near Macarthur. The network also extends cross the border in South Australia with cameras that were co funded between the GTFA and SA Government located at Mt Benson, Elad Road, The Bluff at Tantanoola, Furner, Mt Burr and Carpenters Rocks.

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The Federal Government has announced 16 new grants covering almost 9500 hectares of new softwood and hardwood plantations across Australia under the $73 million Support Plantation Establishment program. Source: Timberbiz The program is supporting the growth of almost 40,000 hectares of new hardwood and softwood plantations across Australia. The Federal Government says it will help meet growing demand for domestic timber including for the construction of new homes and support jobs in regional communities across Australia. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said the Federal Government was committed to a bright future for Australia’s forestry industry which was why it was “delivering record investments”. “These latest grants will increase our sustainable timber supply and support industry, business and jobs in rural Australia,” she said. “This is helping build a Future Made in Australia – increasing our domestic timber supply to support our domestic manufacturing and value-adding capabilities.” The government says the fund will invest in the new equipment and facilities that are key to enabling industry modernisation and advanced processing. It will also invest in training for the forestry workforce, engineered and wood products innovation, and support housing and construction supply chains. “We appreciate the Government’s continued roll-out of this important program, which AFPA has strongly supported from the outset,” AFPA acting Chief Executive Officer Richard Hyett said. “The initiative has become a highly effective partnership between industry and government, delivering positive and tangible benefits for Australia’s forestry sector and the national economy. “Before the introduction of this program, plantations declined by 230,00 hectares in six years.  This program has been critical in reversing the decline in plantation investment that was occurring before it was introduced. It’s now supported nearly 40,000 hectares, and is helping to restore confidence and encouraging growth and much-needed investment in our sector,” he said. “Since launching in 2023, the initiative has successfully driven new plantation investment across Australia, supporting regional economies, local jobs, improving future fibre security and contributing to the Government’s climate and sovereign capability targets.  These sustainable plantations will also help support the long-term future of the construction industry.” Mr Hyett said it was encouraging to see almost $26 million in last week’s Federal Budget, as part of the final allocation of the SPEP. “Given the importance of this program, we have encouraged the Government to extend the SPEP as ongoing funding so timber plantation establishment and expansion can continue across Australia into the future,” he said. A full list of grant recipients through the Support Plantation Establishment program is available at www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry/industries/support-plantation-establishment-program

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Tasmania’s forest and timber industry is calling for a stronger commitment to locally sourced timber and downstream manufacturing as the State prepares to deliver a major pipeline of housing and infrastructure projects. Source: Timberbiz The Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA) said Tasmania had a major opportunity to build in a way that balances environmental responsibility with economic growth, regional jobs and long-term community benefit. TFPA Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel said Tasmania’s future should be built on balance, using renewable local materials, supporting sustainable industries and ensuring more value stays within Tasmania. “If Tasmania is serious about building more homes and major projects, we should be using more Tasmanian timber,” Mr Steel said. “It’s renewable, it stores carbon, it supports regional jobs and manufacturing, and it keeps more economic value here in our State rather than importing materials.” Mr Steel said local timber and downstream processing would play a critical role in helping Tasmania deliver future housing and major projects while reducing transport emissions and supporting sovereign manufacturing capability. “Every extra step of processing undertaken in Tasmania means more jobs, more investment and more opportunity staying here,” he said. “The story of forestry is not just what happens in the forest, it’s what happens afterwards in manufacturing plants, workshops, transport businesses and construction sites across Tasmania.” Mr Steel said the industry wanted to work collaboratively with Government on what it is calling a Tasmanian Timber Guarantee, a long-term commitment to greater certainty around project pipelines, procurement pathways and the role local timber can play in public construction and housing delivery. “Tasmania is talking about major housing programs, urban renewal and significant infrastructure investment, including projects like the Macquarie Point Stadium,” he said. “But right now there is not enough certainty around how local timber and local manufacturing capability fit within that pipeline.” “That certainty matters because businesses make investment decisions years ahead. Industry needs confidence to invest in advanced manufacturing capability, workforce growth and apprenticeships.” Neville Smith Forest Products (NSFP) CEO Andrew Walker said businesses like Neville Smith demonstrated the broader social and economic contribution of Tasmania’s timber industry. “When people walk through operations like this, they see advanced manufacturing, skilled jobs and Tasmanian products helping build homes and infrastructure,” Mr Walker said. “But they also see businesses investing in people and communities.” Mr Walker said NSFP worked closely with parts of the disability sector and vulnerable members of the community to help create meaningful employment pathways. “That’s something we’re incredibly proud of,” he said. “These industries are deeply connected to regional Tasmania and provide real opportunities for people who can sometimes struggle to access secure and meaningful work.” Mr Walker said rising fuel, freight and operating costs continued to place pressure on regional manufacturing businesses and reinforced the importance of strengthening local supply chains. “The opportunity is here for Tasmania to lead with renewable materials, lower-carbon construction and a stronger local manufacturing base,” he said.

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