Forest Products Industry

Bevan Eatts Western Australia’s Shadow Minister for Forestry has accused the Cook Labor Government of risking the future of Western Australia’s native sandalwood industry by pursuing major changes without proper consultation with the people who have spent decades building it. Source: Timberbiz “Today I raised the issue in Parliament through a grievance to the Government, outlining concerns about plans to remove the Forest Products Commission (FPC) from commercial wild sandalwood operations, and replace the existing model with a licensing system, administered by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA),” Mr Eatts said. Mr Eatts said the proposal threatened one of WA’s oldest export industries and a sustainable regional sector that supports jobs, Indigenous contractors, pastoral businesses and international markets. “If I can make the time as Shadow Minister to meet stakeholders, travel to Kalgoorlie, visit operations and listen to harvesters, processors, distillers and exporters, why hasn’t the Minister done the same before making decisions that could destroy another sustainable WA industry?” Mr Eatts said. “This industry has spent decades building its reputation, international customers and the WA sandalwood brand. Once those markets and relationships are lost, you don’t simply get them back.” Mr Eatts said industry participants remained concerned about the future of the integrated supply chain currently coordinated by the FPC, including harvesting, certification, traceability, processing, market access and regeneration. “A licence does not replace a supply chain,” Mr Eatts said. “You cannot take away the structure supporting harvesters, Indigenous contractors, pastoral businesses, processors and exporters and expect everyone to fend for themselves. “This is also a renewable resource with regeneration built into its commercial model through Operation Woylie. If the Government removes the FPC, who coordinates that regeneration, who supplies the seed and who pays for it?” Mr Eatts said uncertainty surrounding the Government’s plans was al-ready affecting customer confidence, with industry warning international buyers were considering alternative supply arrangements beyond December 2026. “This is exactly why you consult before making the decision, not after the damage has been done,” Mr Eatts said. “WA has something special: a sustainable native industry, a premium product and a brand recognised around the world. The Minister still has the opportunity to sit down with the people who built it and find a sustainable way forward. “I’ve gone out and listened to them. Why hasn’t the Minister?”

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AFPA has welcomed legislation passed by Federal Parliament this week to establish a single, specialist trade remedies body to better support Australian timber manufacturers. Source: Timberbiz The Customs Amendment (Safeguard Inquiries) Bill 2026 transfers responsibility for conducting safeguard inquiries from the Productivity Commission to the Anti-Dumping Commission, which will be renamed the Australian Trade Remedies Commission (ATRC). “We sincerely thank the Federal Government for strengthening Australia’s trade remedy arrangements and recognising the need for greater specialist capability,” AFPA Acting Chief Executive Officer Richard Hyett said. “Moving responsibility for safeguard actions from the Productivity Commission into a single specialist agency – the ATRC – will help to improve the capabilities and effectiveness of the overall trade remedies system. “Consolidating responsibility for all trade remedies functions within the ATRC will also enhance regulatory efficiency, streamline processes and provide Australian manufacturers and consumers with a single expert body.” Mr Hyett said the widespread support for the legislation demonstrated these changes and their objectives have been well received across industry and other stakeholders. “In a recent submission, we said there must be a clear and accessible pathway for Australian industries to bring forward cases to the ATRC when they believe they are being harmed by unfair or damaging trade practices,” Mr Hyett said. “A well-functioning trade remedies system is vital for Australian manufacturers operating in globally competitive markets and facing growing international trade pressures. “However, we remain concerned that the ATRC must be provided with adequate resources to fulfil its expanded remit and undertake its responsibilities effectively. Furthermore, international trading systems are evolving rapidly due to significant geopolitical uncertainty. Australia must be vigilant and look to continue to evolve our trade remedies system to meet the increased risks of the changing landscape. “We look forward to working with the Government and the new ATRC to ensure Australia has a strong, responsive and accessible trade remedies system that sup-ports local manufacturing and a level playing field.”

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The NSW Government is progressing its alignment with the new Commonwealth Government environment laws that affect the regulation of forestry operations by tasking the NSW Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to develop a Strategic Assessment for forestry operations in NSW. Source: Timberbiz The assessment will be undertaken under Part 10 of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Commission will lead the assessment in collaboration with relevant NSW agencies and in conjunction with the Australian Government. The assessment by the NRC will cover public native forestry, plantation and private native forestry operations across forests sitting within NSW’s defined Regional Forest Agreement boundaries. The long-standing exemption for forestry operations between the Commonwealth and NSW across large areas of NSW forests, known as the Regional Forest Agreements (RFA), will cease on 1 July 2027 following the introduction of new environment legislation by the Commonwealth in November last year. Reforms to the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act last year introduced a new era for environmental protection and improved productivity in Australia. “The Albanese Government congratulates the Minns Government on reaching this important milestone, which will deliver better protections for the environment and more certainty for industry,” Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said. “As part of our landmark national environmental law reforms passed by the Australian Parliament at the end of last year, RFA forestry will need to meet the same Federal environmental requirements as other industries. “We’re providing up to $8.5 million to NSW to ensure it’s meeting national benchmarks, through the development of landscape-scale approval pathways like the strategic assessment. “We believe in a strong and environmentally sustainable future for the New South Wales forestry industry, and we look forward to continuing work with the Minns Government on this.” The RFAs in NSW cover forests in Eden, the North-East and Southern NSW and set obligations and commitments for forest management. The assessment will consider the impacts from forestry operations on nationally significant animals, plants, habitats and places to ensure they are appropriately identified and managed. From 1 July 2027, forestry operations taking place in RFAs will need to comply with the same rules and standards as other industries covered under the EPBC Act. The NSW Government is now releasing for public consultation the draft terms of reference for the strategic assessment. Once the strategic assessment is complete, the NSW Government will work on a long-term bilateral agreement with the Australian Government to accredit NSW forestry operations. The Minns Labor Government is continuing to develop a Forestry Industry Action Plan to ensure a sustainable forestry industry that is aligned with environmental and economic priorities. Consultation commenced on 18 September 2026 and finishes on 16 October 2026. The assessment will be informed by scientific evidence, spatial and environmental data, and stakeholder input. The Australian and NSW governments have released a draft Terms of Reference outlining the proposed scope, process, information requirements and expected outputs for the assessment. Have your say at https://www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/strategic-assessment-of-forestry-rfas

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