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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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