Forest Products Industry

A new Gippsland Forestry Hub report exposes the Allan Government’s ongoing failure to maintain the regions transport infrastructure, directly undermining forest fuel reduction and bushfire preparedness. Source: Timberbiz The report states key roads and bridges are not fit for purpose with imposed load limits and transport route restrictions on the deteriorating network, highlighting missed opportunities to shift freight to rail, reduce truck movements and improve road safety. The Nationals’ Melina Bath who is also Shadow Minister for Public Land Management said Labor is aware of the problem, but it’s refusing to act which is leaving communities exposed to a heightened bushfire risk. “Blocked access hurts jobs, stymies forest fuel reduction work, delays firefighting response and puts lives at risk,” said Ms Bath. “Poor maintenance and restrictive access rules on state managed roads is pushing trucks onto unsuitable local roads. “The Allan Government is failing to perform basic maintenance required for the movement of firefighting crews and equipment and support bushfire preparedness. “You cannot protect the environment and people if machinery and fire trucks cannot access the fire ground in an emergency.” The report highlights the need for state government investment in key infrastructure projects including the Traralgon Bypass and Sale Alternate Truck Route and the removal of 80km per hour speed restrictions on the Princes Freeway. Ms Bath said the Allan Government’s prolonged neglect of regional road infrastructure disadvantages motorists and puts communities and our environment at risk. “Rural and regional Victoria are 25% of the population but receives only 13% of the state’s infrastructure spending. “Well maintained roads, bridges and keeping access open matters. “Victorians deserve safe roads, effective fuel hazard management and a state government that plans and acts before disaster strikes – not after.”

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The Forest Stewardship Council Australia and New Zealand (FSC ANZ) has opened the second and final public consultation on the revised Forest Stewardship Standard for Australia. Source: Timberbiz The consultation is open from 29 April to 29 June 2026. FSC ANZ invites all stakeholders to review the draft Standard and provide feedback via the FSC Public Consultation Platform. Constructive feedback is welcomed, especially suggestions that clearly explain how specific changes can be improved. To support stakeholder understanding and encourage engagement, FSC ANZ will host an informational webinar on 3 June at 2:00-3.30 PM AEST. All stakeholders are welcome to attend and can register here. Please note the webinar will not be recorded. The Standards Development Group (SDG), the technical working group responsible for revising the Standard, considered all stakeholder feedback received in the initial consultation which closed in August 2025. Based on this feedback, the draft Standard has been updated to reflect stakeholder input. Key proposed changes include: Significant changes to the requirements for the use of highly hazardous pesticides, including a streamlining of Indicators Clarified requirements for Cultural Empathy Training Expanded scope to cover all non-timber forest products (NTFPs), with additional NTFP-specific Indicators to ensure responsible extraction.   The draft Standard will be field-tested from 19-21 May in a Victorian native forest and a Tasmanian plantation. This trial will help verify that the revised Standard requirements are practical to implement and can be effectively audited. The learnings from the forest testing, together with the feedback from the consultation, will underpin the development of the final draft of the Standard. The final draft Standard will be submitted to the FSC ANZ Board for review and approval. It will then be assessed by FSC International to ensure all required normative processes have been met and that the Standard itself includes all required elements. Hereafter, it is considered for final approval by the Policy and Standards Committee, which has delegated authority from the FSC International’s Board of Directors for decisions on FSC Forest Stewardship Standards. Any conditions for approval identified by the Committee must be addressed by the SDG before the Standard is fully approved. Please contact Stefan Jensen, Senior Policy Manager at FSC ANZ and SDG Facilitator at s.jensen@au.fsc.org for questions or comments. Take part in the consultation go to https://consultation-platform.fsc.org/en/consultations  

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The Victorian Government’s announcement last week of a $100 million commitment to replace ageing CFA tankers and pumpers was little more than a joke, according to the State Opposition. Source: Timberbiz Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Danny O’Brien said the State Government had “conveniently left out” that the $100 million will be distributed over 10 years. The Victorian State government last week announced a $365 million investment in the Country Fire Authority and forest firefighter upgrades which included $100m for new tankers and pumpers in addition to $26.2m for station builds, planning, land acquisition and upgrades at Lakes Entrance, Barongarook West, Charlton, Nar Nar Goon, Beveridge, Dereel, Mirboo North, Kingston, Woodvale and Yarrambat. On top of that a further $22.4 million will be provided for more support, training and new protective gear. “This is a joke. This funding spread over 10 years doesn’t come anywhere near what is required to adequately replace the CFA’s ageing fleet,” Mr O’Brien said. “There are at least 630 old single cab tankers in the fleet, and more than 10 per cent of tankers are more than 30 years old – this funding will not even begin to modernise the fleet. “It’s also a fraction of the $3 billion extra the government is collecting from Victorians in emergency services tax. Where is the rest of the money going?” New tankers cost $465,000 and pumpers $1 million, meaning the extra funding will only allow the CFA to replace about 21 tankers and five pumpers each year. Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria estimates the CFA needs to replace 100 appliances each year at a cost of $60 million just to stop the age of the fleet going backwards. United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said in a statement that the funding did not go far enough. A coalition of career and volunteer firefighters are calling out the Victorian Government’s announcement of new CFA funding that falls well short of what is required to address longstanding risks across the fire services- and includes no funding for Fire Rescue Victoria’s failing fleet. “Labor cut the CFA budget for four consecutive years, and this government continues to rip off the CFA and put volunteers’ safety at risk,” Mr O’Brien said. “This petty cash announcement will leave volunteers still sitting on the back of single-cab tankers, exposed to heat, smoke and dust for many bushfire seasons to come. “Only a Nationals and Liberals Government will scrap Labor’s emergency services tax, properly fund the CFA, and respect our volunteers.”  

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