Australian timber industry news

I had an email from a Queensland mate the other day. “I recently took a train trip from Brisbane to Charleville” he told me, “And there were huge piles of concrete sleepers beside the line to the Toowoomba Range and elsewhere.” Source: Australian Rural & Regional News I knew exactly what he was talking about. In September 2024 I travelled by train from Perth to Adelaide, from Ballarat to Melbourne and from Melbourne to Sydney. Alongside every railway line along this trip were piles of “used” concrete sleepers. Some of the piles were very large, containing hundreds of old, failed sleepers. It was obvious that the piles were growing, as I could spot the fresh additions. As everyone of my generation knows, the railway system of Australia was built on hard-wood timber sleepers, cut from our native forests. They were produced in their countless millions, initially hewed by sleeper cutters in the bush using a broadaxe, then cut in sawmills. Iconic sleeper timbers included the river red gum, jarrah, wandoo and ironbark. Jarrah sleepers (and crossings) were so good they also went in their thousands to India and to England. As recently as the 1970s, timber sleepers were still going into the great iron ore railways in the Pilbara and the coal railways in Queensland. Laying timber sleepers, and spiking down the rails with iron dogs, and replacing sleepers that had come to the end of their life, was one of the great Australian bush occupations, undertaken by “snake charmers” as the navvy gangs were always known. Timber sleepers had a lot going for them. They were relatively cheap to “manufacture”, they were relatively light, they bounced rather than shattered if they fell off the back of a truck, and they could be recycled. If nobody wanted a used timber sleeper, nature took care of that. Timber is biodegradable, and the old used timber sleeper gently disappeared, devoured by termites or fungi, or desiccated by wind and sun or converted to ash by a passing fire. Unfortunately, timber sleepers had enemies. Foremost among these were the “Save the Forest” environmentalists who thought that if timber sleepers were no longer used, the demise of the hated timber industry would be hastened, and our forests would sooner be “saved”. A campaign directed at the various State government railway departments was mounted. This was a wholly illogical and dishonest campaign. For one thing, the environmentalists claimed that using timber for fine furniture or craftwork was not a threat to the forest but using it for railway sleepers was. Needless to say, like so many green campaigns, the fact that it was silly did not matter, and it carried the day. Railway engineers were also complicit. They had always preferred a concrete (or steel) sleeper to one made of timber, but until they got support from the Greens, they had not succeeded in getting timber archived. To the engineer, concrete offered a significant advantage over timber: coming out of a mould, using specified ingredients and a standard process, the concrete sleeper was always exactly the same (perfect) dimension and exactly up to specification. They would no longer have to rely on timber inspectors at sawmills “passing” or rejecting timber sleepers in an often-subjective manner. The engineers also falsely promoted the idea that concrete was indestructible, resistant to white ants, fungi and the weather, and that sleepers made from concrete would never need replacement. The reality was different. Concrete sleepers often broke when being unloaded, and then eventually they always failed, sooner or later, especially on railways carrying very heavy loads. It is true that the average life of a concrete sleeper is longer than that of a timber sleeper, but not all that longer, and possibly shorter if we are talking economic life. Nothing more clearly puts the lie to the idea of concrete invincibility than the view from train windows: an unending litter of failed concrete sleepers lying willy-nilly along the trackside. Concrete can be recycled – crushed into gravel that can be used as road base but the process of collecting used sleepers at trackside in remote places seems to be too difficult, because it is not being done. I don’t understand why the same wagons and loaders that bring out the new concrete sleepers cannot be used to take away the old ones, but apparently not. The cost of crushing concrete is also great and energy intensive. Clearly there is no economic incentive to recycling concrete sleepers at present, or no means of turning them into a profit. If there was, they would not be accumulating. Old timber sleepers on the other hand are in great demand, especially from landscapers. I have seen whole farm buildings and yards built out of them. Unfortunately, they are a finite resource, no longer being produced. And if the old sleepers were not used, they would simply rot away or burn. When I was a young bloke working in the karri forest, the remnants of the old timber logging tramways could still be found in many parts of the forest. The rails had all been pulled up and reused, and all that was left of the sleepers was a slot in the formation, where the sleeper had once been and rotted away or consumed in a bushfire. The big push by the greens to do away with timber sleepers and replace them with concrete is an example of misplaced environmental do-goodism going astray. Australian hardwood forests were never threatened with destruction by the production of timber sleepers. This is amply demonstrated by the fact that the forests are still there today, after having millions and millions of sleepers cut from them over the years. Indeed, many of these forests are so nice that they are now national parks.  As every forester knew, as far back as the invention of the railway, both the sleepers and the forests from which they were cut were recyclable. Apart from being non-biodegradable, virtually non-recyclable and a blot on the […]

On 24 November 1939, the Coffs Harbour Advocate reported, among other things, that “now there are only 200 known koalas in the whole of New South Wales, including those in captivity”. NSW Environment Minister Sharpe’s media release of 3 December 2024 stated, “that our grandchildren will never get the chance to see koalas in the wild”. I thought she may have been a little behind in reading her ministerial briefings. But then the penny dropped! The current commitment to the Great Koala National Park is an example of political and activist NGO scare campaign, using out of date expert elicitations or population guestimates to mislead the public on the alleged need for more national parks to protect koalas. In the case of Minister Sharpe, it has become obvious that out of date koala population estimates suit her eco-political agenda. Prior to the last election, the now Environment Minster Sharpe announced that the Minns government would establish the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) – 300,000 hectares of koala habitat protected from logging, stretching from Kempsey to Coffs Harbour. Minister Shape is taking a lead role in the koala campaign to spend potentially hundreds of millions of dollars on koalas and the GKNP, while over a thousand more threatened species receive little or no funding. Why does the Minister and others never ask, if state forests have been managed for multiple uses, including timber production for over 100 years and have so much biodiversity, why do these forests need to be “protected” in national parks? The CSIRO national koala monitoring program April 2024 report provides koala population estimates for NSW, ACT and Qld ranging from 117,050 to 244,440. The Victorian and SA population is estimated to range from 170,780 to 383,570. This gives a national population estimate of 287,830 to 628,010 koalas, which suggests there is absolutely no risk of koala extinction by 2050. The reason there is so much fuss about the NSW, ACT and Qld populations, is the decision of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee to make the one-off use of the provisions of Section 517 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and split a genetically identical koala species into two species, based on state borders. It has not yet been revealed why Minister Sharpe and environment department bureaucrats continue to ignore the latest and much higher estimates from the koala population review by CSIRO. Using out of date guesstimates rather than more recent monitoring derived data does provide more justification for the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) proposal. This scare mongering may also explain why there was an attempt to add koalas to the list of species covered by the Environment Department’s severe and irreversible impact guidelines. See section 6.5 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The listing of koalas in the ACT, NSW and Queensland has been a boon for activist politicians and NGOs, to ramp up the use of koalas as a scare mongering political and fundraising tool. The political and activist campaigning around koalas is potentially misdirecting conservation spending by NSW government agencies. Excerpts from the NSW budget estimate hearings on 23 August 2022 give an insight into this issue. The Hon Penny Sharpe: “But the thing that I am very concerned about is that previously, at the end of 2020-21, the figures were that 262 species were on track to be secure in the wild. In this year’s budget papers, it’s down to 150.” Mr James Griffin: “The koala strategy, the single biggest investment in any species—” The Hon Penny Sharpe: “I’m aware of that $193 million. Thank you, Minister.” Dean Knudson: “The investment in Saving our Species is $15 million a year so, $75 million over the five years.” Meanwhile, in areas under the Minister’s portfolio the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NP&WS) September 2021 Zero Extinctions report, it states on page one: Our protected areas provide a vital refuge for many of these threatened species. In New South Wales (NSW), around 85% of all species threatened with extinction are represented on the national park estate. Most are endemic to Australia or NSW – found nowhere else in the world. However, even on the NSW national park estate, the future for these approximately 800 species is threatened by feral animals, weeds, altered fire regimes, the impact of climate change and other threats.” On page two the report states: “There is evidence that the overall decline in biodiversity in NSW is occurring even in the national park estate. Key threats affecting threatened species populations in national parks include feral predators and other feral animals; invasive weeds; changed fire regimes; and a range of impacts associated with climate change. On park declines are occurring, or have occurred, in a range of threatened species including small to medium-sized mammals, woodland birds, koalas and gliders, frogs and a range of plant species.” While all the media, activist and public attention is focused on koalas and denigrating anyone who is not wedded to the activist driven GKNP, the Minister gets a free pass for her failure to ensure threatened and other species receive appropriate funding and management. One of many species genuinely threatened with extinction is Eucalyptus Imlayensis, the Imlay Mallee. Mt Imlay National Park was dedicated in 1972, and the Imlay Mallee was discovered by white fellas in 1977. The population was surveyed in 2007, and the number of mature individuals was estimated to be about 80. The difficult terrain and the close proximity of some individuals (which may have been one or several plants) meant that a more accurate count could not be made. Twenty-three seedlings planted in 2011, and a smaller number planted in later years were all killed by a high intensity bushfire on 4 January 2020. Surviving mature Imlay Mallee were suckering from their lignotubers, after being burnt. Latest publicly available information is that there are 48 Imlay Mallee root masses with four-year-old coppice regrowth, down from an estimated 70 mature plants before the 2019-20 high intensity bushfire killed a […]

US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imported goods from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t curb the flow of illicit drugs and illegal migrants into the United States. Source: Timberbiz If he follows through with that threat, it could have economic consequences for the US lumber supply chain, according to Rajan Parajuli, an associate professor of forest economics and policy at NC State University. Canada is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of softwood lumber. In 2023, the US imported 28.1 million cubic metres of softwood lumber from Canada, primarily for residential and commercial construction. Trump’s proposed tariff would require US companies to pay a 25% tax to the US government when importing Canadian softwood lumber products, with the goal of encouraging those companies to invest in domestic production instead. US companies would likely attempt to recoup tariff-related losses by raising the price of Canadian softwood lumber, which would potentially impact the housing market by making building materials more expensive. “Tariffs unequivocally work towards pushing domestic lumber prices higher. When that happens, it usually adds up to higher costs for consumers,” Mr Parajuli said. When domestic lumber prices rise, US companies benefit from increased profits as US consumers have to pay more money for imported lumber, at least as long as demand for building materials and other lumber products remains steady. Mr Parajuli highlighted the 2006 US – Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement as an example of how tariffs can impact the supply chain. The agreement essentially allowed Canadian provinces to charge an export tax on softwood lumber purchased by US companies. Under the agreement, which was active until 2015, US lumber producers gained US$1.6 billion and US consumers lost US$2.3 billion as softwood lumber imports from Canada declined by 7.78% in the months when export taxes took effect. “US consumers not only paid producers’ gains, but also the losses that resulted from the export taxes,” Mr Parajuli said. Similar to the 2006 US – Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement, President-elect Trump’s proposed tariff would likely lead to a slight decline in softwood lumber imports from Canada because of increased prices domestically. US companies could increase softwood lumber imports from other trade partners, such as Germany and Sweden, to continue meeting domestic demand. Both countries have been exporting increasing amounts of lumber to the US in recent years. In the long term, the US would need to work with Canada to negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement, according to Parajuli. Germany, Sweden and other trade partners simply don’t have the inventory or capacity to displace Canada in lumber exports. Compared to the 28.1 million cubic meters of softwood lumber that Canada exported to the US in 2023, for example, Germany and Sweden only exported a combined 3.49 million cubic meters of softwood lumber to the US during the same period. “Up to 30% of softwood lumber consumed in the US each year comes from Canada. A small portion of the total market share is captured by other countries,” Mr Parajuli said. Mr Parajuli added that the US also lacks the capacity to meet domestic demand. While the US has plenty of land to harvest for softwood lumber, the forestry sector has struggled with workforce challenges in recent years. At the same time, Interfor and other companies have closed numerous sawmills across the southern US due to a combination of supply chain issues and weak demand caused by high interest rates. Mr Parajuli said the US lumber and the overall wood product markets may remain volatile given the uncertainty in trade and market policies under the Trump administration. “In an era where technological advancements are rapidly evolving, especially in the logging sector, the US should invest in upgrading the forest products supply chain,” Mr Parajuli said. “Sustainable markets are key to growing and conserving our forests.”

More young people are looking towards the forestry and wood sector as a career, according to the findings of a new Coillte commissioned survey, which revealed that 60% of respondents believed it to be an attractive option. Source: The Irish Examiner Coillte said this growing interest aligns with the industry’s pivotal role in addressing Ireland’s climate and housing challenges while meeting the increasing demand for sustainable timber. Public sentiment also strongly supports forestry’s role in addressing these challenges: Nearly 70% of the survey respondents favoured increased timber frame housing, reflecting a rise in support since 2022, while 80% believed Ireland should be self-sufficient in timber production. The forestry sector is recognised as a key driver of Ireland’s climate action objectives, requiring more than 1,700 skilled professionals by 2030 to meet the ambitions of the forest strategy. Coillte released the findings at the launch of its 2025 Forestry Scholarship Programme, which offers up to €20,000 per recipient across their degree, alongside paid summer placements and career opportunities with the company. The scholarship, created to address the growing need for skilled professionals to support Ireland’s environmental and economic sustainability, provides support for students pursuing a full-time, third-level forestry programme at University College Dublin (UCD) or South-East Technological University (SETU). Inaugural scholars Áine O’Dwyer (Donegal), Mia Sibbald (Kildare) and Alex Power (Waterford), now in their first semester at SETU, are already benefiting from the programme. Coillte Forest managing director Mark Carlin said forestry is essential to Ireland’s environmental and economic future, offering diverse careers in a wide variety of areas. He urged students to consider forestry as a meaningful career that contributes to a greener, more self-sufficient Ireland. “Forestry is not just about planting and harvesting trees – it is a dynamic, multifaceted sector,” he said, stressing that sustainability is at the heart of forestry today and technological innovation continues to transform the sector. Mr Carlin said there is a wide range of careers available, including planners who use sophisticated information technology to develop strategic forest management plans, ecologists working to protect and enhance biodiversity, supply-chain managers working to coordinate the supply of sustainable wood products, and recreation managers delivering trails and activities for people to enjoy. Inaugural scholar Alex Power said receiving the Coillte scholarship opened doors for him. “It’s not just the financial support—it’s being part of a sector that plays such an important role in tackling climate change and supporting rural communities.

Repairable and exchangeable skeleton modules with open load-bearing structures enable different types of use and uncomplicated adaptations in the event of future changes. Building heights of up to 24 storeys are possible. Source: Timberbiz The operating life and life span of buildings are often far apart. If a property is no longer fit for purpose, it is usually demolished even though it would still be perfectly usable. Even in the event of damage to individual parts of the building, the entire building usually has to make way. This is because in most cases it is cheaper to build a new building than to carry out a conversion or renovation of the existing one. However, this approach does not conserve resources. In the MOHOHO project, an interdisciplinary team from the Institute of Architectural Technology and the Institute of Timber Engineering and Wood Technology at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), together with corporate partners Kaufmann Bausysteme and KS Ingenieure, have developed a system for a modular wooden high-rise building, which is designed with the purpose of extending its operating life and life span thanks to its flexible adaptability. A patent application has been applied for this system. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) has funded the project. “The construction industry is responsible for around 60 % of global resource consumption and almost half of global waste production and global emissions of climate-damaging gases,” said Christian Keuschnig from the Institute of Architectural Technology at TU Graz. “That’s why the circular R-strategies, such as refurbishment, repair or re-use, were very important for us in the MOHOHO project in order to develop a building system that offers a CO2-reduced alternative to conventional construction methods in high-rise construction and can be used for different purposes for as long as possible.” This was achieved by combining modular and skeleton construction. In modular construction, completely prefabricated 3D timber modules are used, which are stacked next to and on top of each other. The skeleton construction offers a supporting structure for free and therefore flexible floor plans that can be adapted by inserting or removing partition walls. These recyclable skeleton modules consist of cross-laminated timber floors and glulam columns and beams. The prefabricated skeleton modules can be joined quickly and securely using the connection node developed as part of the project. T he connection node also enables load redistribution, which means that the failure of individual columns does not lead to the collapse of the entire building. This firstly increases robustness and thus safety and secondly enables the targeted repair of individual modules. In addition, an elastomer bearing integrated into the node ensures a high level of sound insulation between the units. To replace a module or individual elements, it is necessary to disconnect the supply lines for electricity, water and heating and expose the connections. The node is designed so that a lifting cylinder can be inserted between the spacers, which slightly lifts the support above. This allows the spacers to be removed, and a shear plate redirects the forces after the lifting cylinder has been lowered. This relieves the pressure on the underlying components and creates the necessary space for the replacement process. In addition to accessibility, the individual elements must be able to be dismantled to ensure a repairable construction. In mathematical terms, a building with this construction system can be up to 24 storeys high, although from a height of more than six storeys a concrete core is absolutely essential, something which significantly increases the consumption of resources and CO2 emissions. “In MOHOHO, we have combined the advantages of modular wood construction, such as the high degree of prefabrication and the short construction time, with the advantages of skeleton construction,” said Mr Keuschnig. “The prefabrication of the modules in a production hall under controlled conditions enables higher quality and traceability of the joints compared to on-site assembly and ensures shorter construction times as well as reduced noise and dirt pollution. “The repairability and flexibility of the construction system should significantly extend the operating life and life span of the building. During dismantling, the modules can either be reused directly or separated by type. “We are already planning a follow-up project in which we want to test and scrutinise all of these things in practice.”

Scion Principal Scientist Brian Richardson was awarded the Minister’s Biosecurity Award in 2024 acknowledging his outstanding contributions to New Zealand Biosecurity. The award was presented by Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard in Wellington. Source: Timberbiz Sam Davidson was presented with the Forest Growers Research Young Scientist Award; recognising a promising young scientist who demonstrates passion, industry engagement, and communication skills Serajis Salekin was presented with The New Zealand Institute of Forestry Chavasse Travel Award, supporting international travel to increase their and the forestry sector’s experience and knowledge. Kiryn Dobbie was awarded the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Student and Early-Career Researcher Conference to support participation in the 2023 Australasian Plant Pathology Conference. Rosie Sargeant was presented with the Forest Growers Research Award for Contribution to a Science Team at the 2023 Forest Growers Research Annual Conference. Lisa Langer was presented with the Best Oral Presentation Award at the International Electronic Conference on Toxics for her presentation “Up-The-Pipe Solutions: A Best Practice Framework to Engage Communities in Reducing Chemical Contamination in Waste”. Roya Rezanavaz received Kiwi Innovation Network Emerging Innovator Funding. Scion scientists were celebrated at the annual Science New Zealand awards for work to help cut industrial CO2 emissions, reduce microplastics in the environment, and connect Māori communities with research and science. Early Career Researcher award – Dr Bing Song. Dr Song joined Scion in 2019 and leads the Solid Biofuel Project while also mentoring colleagues, leading and supporting funding bids, and reviewing papers for journals in his field. He has produced 40 publications in his career so far (31 during his time at Scion), including three book chapters and 37 research articles. Of the 37 published papers, 32 have been in Q1 journals – the highest ranking in a particular field. Individual/Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr Tanira Kingi. Dr Kingi’s 30-year career has covered management, consultancy, and academic positions across the primary sectors. Dr Kingi (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa) is a Climate Change Commissioner, an advisor to the Ministries for the Environment and Primary Industries and an independent research scientist. In his time at Scion, he worked collaboratively with teams across the organisation providing mentorship, and strategic advice while leading programs in climate mitigation and land use change scenario modelling. In 2021 he was made an emeritus scientist at Scion. Team Award – Microplastics Team. Scion’s microplastics team includes Dr Lloyd Donaldson, Beatrix Theobald, Ross Anderson, Ben Davy, Dr Kate Parker (project leader), Dr Robert Abbel, Anna de Lena, Maxime Barbier, Steph Davy, Dr Jamie Bridson, Queenie Tanjay and Regis Risani. They have been determining how much microplastic is in our environment, its source and environmental consequences. Their work has contributed to a wide range of projects including fundamental research, community engagement and outreach, and commercial projects which include determining the amount of microplastic in our food.

The Gippsland Forestry Hub has announced its 2024/25 committees, reflecting a dynamic blend of expertise across its executive and general committees. Source: Timberbiz The Executive Committee, led by Chair Trevor Nicklen, continues to focus on sustainable forestry initiatives, while the General Committee introduces fresh perspectives, including members from diverse sectors such as local government, education, and industry. This year’s appointments aim to strengthen the Hub’s mission of fostering innovation and sustainability in Gippsland’s forestry sector. Executive Committee Chair: Trevor Nicklen, DEECA Vice Chair: Simon Gatt, AKD Treasurer: Ian Reid, AusTimber Lou Bourke, HVP Tony Cantwell, Committee 4 Gippsland Tom Schraenkler, Sumitomo Forestry Australia Jon Lambert, Heartwood Unlimited Steven Zyhajlo, Opal Lesia Goodwin, Gippsland Forestry Hub   General Committee Mark Coleman, Wellington Shire Council Tony Britton, Radial Timber Angela & Luke Olarenshaw, Alberton Timber Julian Hay, AKD Linda Austin, TAFE GIPPSLAND Peter Devonshire, Gippsland Agroforestry Network  

Building approvals data reveals the ongoing strengthening in the new home building market and continue to point to a moderate-pace recovery in 2025. Source: Timberbiz The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its monthly building approvals data for November 2024 for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories. HIA Senior Economist, Matt King, said that total dwelling approvals fell by 3.6% compared with the previous month but were still up 7.2% over the three-month period. Total dwelling approvals were up 5.4% in the three-month period compared with the corresponding period in 2023. And detached house approvals in the three months to November 2024 increased by a modest 0.7% on the previous three-month period and climbed 7.1% compared with the same period in the previous year. “Following a period of prolonged weakness, there are signs of life again in building approvals, which is pointing to a nascent recovery in new home building.” Mr King said. “November 2024 marked exactly one year since the RBA last raised interest rates. Unchanged interest rate settings have provided a welcomed degree of certainty for consumers. “Population growth rates have slowed across the country but remain elevated which is contributing to strong underlying demand for housing. “Detached house approvals continue to rebound off a very low base, further confirming that the trough of the cycle is now in the rear-view mirror,” he said. Multi-unit approvals rose by 20.1% in the three months to November 2024 and were up 2.6% on the corresponding period in 2023. Despite some observable improvement, approvals for multi-units have been trending at decade-low levels and remain subdued amid challenges with capacity. “For the entirety of 2024, multi-unit approval volumes were erratic and trending at decade-low levels,” Mr King said. “The sector is still reeling from a perfect storm of building material cost escalation resulting from supply chain bottlenecks, skilled labour shortages, credit constraints for businesses, and an elevated public sector infrastructure pipeline that is absorbing skilled trades. “The overall outlook for new home building is characterised by a multi-speed recovery with increasingly divergent trends across different regions and housing types.” Perth, Adelaide and South-East Queensland continue to lead the way in new home contract sales and building approvals. Meanwhile, activity in Sydney remains muted and there is no indication of a lasting recovery in either detached housing or the multi-unit sector, for now. “At the national level, market confidence is returning as the majority of capital city and regional markets now appear to have moved through the trough in new home building activity. A national recovery is in sight,” Mr King said. “Nevertheless, the size of the upswing in new home building activity will be heavily influenced by Federal and State Government housing policy settings. “Policy makers must double-down on the pursuit of efficiencies and improvement in industry red tape, the excessive taxation of home build, the availability of land for residential development, and the supply of skilled labour.” Detached house approvals in the three months to November 2024 rose by 40.8% in Western Australia compared to the same time in the previous year. This was followed by South Australia (+26.5%), Queensland (+14.6%), and the Northern Territory (+10.5%). The other states and territories recorded declines over the same period, led by the Australian Capital Territory (-34.6%), followed by New South Wales (-7.5%), Victoria (-4.5%), and Tasmania (-2.7%). Multi-unit approvals in the three months to November 2024 climbed significantly in Western Australia (+207.5%) compared with the corresponding period in the previous year. This was followed by Queensland (+16.0%), Victoria (+9.4%) and New South Wales (+1.6%). The Northern Territory registered a flat result. Declines were recorded in Tasmania (-85.7%), the Australian Capital Territory (-82.4%), and South Australia (-15.1%).  

The Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC), the Institute of Chartered Foresters (United Kingdom), the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, and Forestry Australia, are offering a unique opportunity for rising leaders in forestry to participate in a 3-month paid international work placement, to share knowledge and gain hands on experience in international practices. Source: Timberbiz Host employer organisations in each of the four participating countries have stepped forward to support this program. By opening their doors to these young professionals, they are providing life-changing opportunities and showcasing the exceptional forestry expertise and innovation within their organisations. These are the successful candidates and their host organisations. Candidates from the UK Emyr Parker will be joining Juken NZ, a leader in sustainable forestry and wood product manufacturing, in New Zealand. Alex Donaldson MICFor will work for Forest Corporation of New South Wales in Australia.   Candidates from Canada Hope Rebonne will gain experience with Sustainable Timber Tasmania in Australia.   Candidates from Australia Prue Crundall will be hosted by the Duchy of Cornwall in the UK. Sean Boucher will work with Strategic Natural Resource Consultants, a trailblazer in forest management and resource consulting, in British Columbia, Canada.   Candidates from New Zealand Pheobe Milne will join the Ontario Woodlot Association, a champion of sustainable private forest management, in Canada. Tor Drummond will head to Tillhill Forestry, a leading sustainable forestry and timber harvesting company in the UK.   From March to May 2025, these young professionals will bring their expertise, curiosity, and passion to their host organisations. In turn, the host employers will gain fresh perspectives and insights from these emerging leaders in forestry. During their placements, candidates will maintain blogs, offering a glimpse into their experiences and the forestry practices of their host countries. They will also share their learnings in an article upon completion of the program. To learn more about the program, please visit: Institute of Chartered Foresters: www.charteredforesters.org/what-we-do/young-professional-foresters-exchange-programme Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada: www.cif-ifc.org/what-we-do/national-awards/young-professional-foresters-exchange-program/ New Zealand Institute of Forestry: https://nzif.org.nz/ Forestry Australia: www.forestry.org.au/

A Call for Proposals for the January 2025 Forestry Research Program is open. This program supports collaborative research, development, and extension (RD&E) activities designed to deliver measurable benefits to Australia’s commercial forest growers and drive industry innovation. Source: Timberbiz The Forestry Research Program provides a unique opportunity to advance the science of commercial forestry and its practical adoption. By addressing critical challenges and leveraging industry partnerships, this program aims to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience across the sector. “This program reflects FWPA’s ongoing commitment to supporting our forest grower members through research that drives productivity, sustainability, and innovation,” said Andrew Leighton, CEO of FWPA. “This program is about creating tangible value for Australia’s commercial forest growers,” said Jodie Mason, Head of Forest Research at FWPA. “Our focus is on fostering innovative research with strong industry support to address key priorities and deliver impactful outcomes. Collaboration is at the heart of this effort, ensuring the research is both practical and transformative.” Aligned with FWPA’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, the program focuses on key RD&E priorities that reduce risk, loss, and cost while increasing productivity across the sector. The specific industry priorities are articulated in FWPA’s grower RD&E investment plans, across the themes of: Climate Change Damage Agents Forest Operations & Supply Chain Impact of Fire Native Forest Silviculture Plantation Silviculture & Nutrition Tree Breeding & Genetic Improvement Proposals addressing topics outside these priorities may also be considered if strong support from the forest-growing industry is demonstrated. The Forestry Research Program follows a two-stage application process: Submission of Concept Notes (due Monday, 3 February 2025) Submission of Full Proposals (due Monday, 7 April 2025) Funded projects must commence in the 2025/26 financial year. Proposals will be assessed based on their alignment with FWPA’s Strategic Plan, demonstrated industry need and support, scientific merit, and a clear pathway to delivering measurable benefits for Australia’s commercial forest growers. FWPA encourages prospective applicants to engage early with potential industry partners to ensure meaningful collaboration and alignment with industry needs. A minimum of three industry partners is required for each project. Information and Support For more information, including application guidelines and templates, visit the Forestry Research Program webpage here.

Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has announced the signing of a new Statutory Funding Agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) that is in effect from 1 January 2025 to 2034. Source: Timberbiz As a Rural Research and Development Corporation (RDC), the FWPA’s Statutory Funding Agreement (SFA) represents the renewal of a 10-year contract between the Australian Government and FWPA. The new contract is in response to changes in the levies legislation passed by Parliament. Key changes include: Streamlining and Modernisation: DAFF ‘s updates to the levies legislation aim to reduce complexity and inconsistencies, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and comply with these regulations. Future adjustments to levy settings will also be simplified. Under the new levies legislation, the new SFA defines FWPA as being the Declared Recipient Body under the Act for the forest and wood products industry. Focus on Clarity: The primary goal of these changes is to enhance comprehension and ease of compliance with the levies legislation, while maintaining the individual levy settings as they currently are. Government Commitment: The government remains dedicated to providing matching funding for eligible R&D activities conducted by RDCs, with the new legislation designed to streamline the current processes. Specifically for FWPA the new legislation provides access for full matching funding up to 0.5% of sector GVP. The levy system represents a long-standing collaboration between the Australian Government and industry. It is designed to bolster productivity and competitiveness in international markets by imposing statutory levies on producers, processors, and exporters. These levies are collected with industry input and are crucial for funding initiatives that benefit the agricultural sector. Australia’s rural R&D levy system is often regarded as a global benchmark for government and industry partnerships in agricultural innovation. It balances efficiency, inclusivity, and shared responsibility, driving improvements in productivity and sustainability while addressing industry-specific challenges. This new agreement and modernisation of the levies will empower FWPA to further enhance the services it can deliver to its members and other levy payers, providing substantial benefits to our members and the wider industry. “On behalf of FWPA, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for their support and partnership, demonstrated by the renewal of our SFA,” FWPA Board Chair Craig Taylor said. “This new contract is not only a testament to our collaborative efforts but also a commitment to the future of the forest and wood products research and development, and the industry in Australia. “Based on the 2023 GVP of the sector, this new contract makes available approximately $11.5 million per annum in matching payments for R&D investments made by the industry through FWPA,” he said. “As our sector grows, so will the matching funds available. We are excited about the opportunities this will create for innovation and growth, benefitting our members and the broader community.” For more on the levies go to https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/levies/rates#forestry

In a commentary in the Latrobe Valley Express, Victoria’s Forest and Fire Management Chief Fire Officer, Chris Hardman stated that: “…you should know that Victoria is prepared and that our land and fire agencies have worked all year to reduce bushfire risk. We are prepared and ready to respond”. Source: Latrobe Valley Express by John Cameron The truth is that Victoria is unprepared and is at risk of large catastrophic bushfires with potential to destroy life, property, livestock, environmental values and disrupt water supplies in both regional Victoria and greater metropolitan Melbourne. We risk a repeat of events like Black Friday (1939), Ash Wednesday (1983), Black Saturday (2009) and the Black Summer (2019/20). This risk is primarily because our key fire agencies have demonstrably failed to implement adequate fuel reduction, have a track record of untimely fire detection and delayed initial attack and have often failed to mount fire suppression with sufficient force. Mr Hardman talks up his agency’s fuel reduction on 90,000 hectares last year and 138,000 hectares of public forest this year. To put that in perspective, the area of public forest fuel reduced represents only 1.2% and 1.8% respectively of 7.5 million hectares of public forest land. This fuel reduced proportion is well short of the recommendation of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission, which called for fuel reduction on greater than 5% of the forest each year (on a rolling average basis). Fire behaviour scientist in submissions and evidence to the Royal Commission, called for fuel reduction on 8% pa, consistent with the highly successful bushfire mitigation employed for more than 60 years in the forests of South West WA (only two lives lost to bushfire in their south-west forest over the last 60 years). Since 2009, our ‘responsible’ agency has been fuel reducing less than about 1.5% of the forest each year. Large areas of Victoria now have very high forest fuel levels (flammable dead bark, branches, leaves etc on the forest floor) of up to 40 tonnes per hectare. According to fire behaviour expert David Packham, the energy released by combustion in a bushfire of this amount of fuel (at about 10% moisture content) would be about 680,000 megajoules per hectare, resulting in a very severe bushfire under adverse weather conditions. This forest fuel load has the potential energy output of 14,000 litres per hectare of petrol, however, the forest fuel is potentially more dangerous than petrol because of the potential of burning bark shards to create new fires 10 to 20 kilometres ahead of the fire front. Because of very high forest fuel levels, Victoria is a ticking time bomb. The large 1.8 million hectares burnt as a result of Victoria’s 2019/20 bushfires has been attributed to insufficient fuel reduction in the burnt areas in the years preceding the fire – only 0.6% pa of the forest area was fuel reduced in prior years and the fuel reduced coupe size was too small and there was insufficient fuel reduction close to ignition points. Weather conditions and Forest Fire Danger Index were moderate for about two weeks after initial ignitions on 21 November. Other deficiencies included tardy fire detection, delayed initial attack (attack delayed to second and third day after ignition for two fires that went on to burn about one million hectares), and not mounting suppression with sufficient force, particularly early when fire weather was moderate and the fire perimeter was relatively small. John Cameron (Dip Hort. Burnley, MBA Monash, and tertiary units in economics, mathematics and statistics) is a forestry and business consultant previously holding positions in general management, corporate development and research in forestry and forest products.

Irish philosopher George Berkely, best known for his theory of immaterialism, once famously mused, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” What about AI-generated trees? They probably wouldn’t make a sound, but they will be critical nonetheless for applications such as adaptation of urban flora to climate change. Source: Timberbiz To that end, the novel “Tree-D Fusion” system developed by researchers at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Google, and Purdue University merges AI and tree-growth models with Google’s Auto Arborist data to create accurate 3D models of existing urban trees. The project has produced the first-ever large-scale database of 600,000 environmentally aware, simulation-ready tree models across North America. “We’re bridging decades of forestry science with modern AI capabilities,” said Sara Beery, MIT electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) assistant professor, MIT CSAIL principal investigator, and a co-author on a new paper about Tree-D Fusion. “This allows us to not just identify trees in cities, but to predict how they’ll grow and impact their surroundings over time. We’re not ignoring the past 30 years of work in understanding how to build these 3D synthetic models; instead, we’re using AI to make this existing knowledge more useful across a broader set of individual trees in cities around North America, and eventually the globe.” Tree-D Fusion builds on previous urban forest monitoring efforts that used Google Street View data but branches it forward by generating complete 3D models from single images. While earlier attempts at tree modelling were limited to specific neighbourhoods, or struggled with accuracy at scale, Tree-D Fusion can create detailed models that include typically hidden features, such as the back side of trees that aren’t visible in street-view photos. The technology’s practical applications extend far beyond mere observation. City planners could use Tree-D Fusion to one day peer into the future, anticipating where growing branches might tangle with power lines, or identifying neighbourhoods where strategic tree placement could maximize cooling effects and air quality improvements. These predictive capabilities, the team says, could change urban forest management from reactive maintenance to proactive planning. The researchers took a hybrid approach to their method, using deep learning to create a 3D envelope of each tree’s shape, then using traditional procedural models to simulate realistic branch and leaf patterns based on the tree’s genus. This combo helped the model predict how trees would grow under different environmental conditions and climate scenarios, such as different possible local temperatures and varying access to groundwater. Now, as cities worldwide grapple with rising temperatures, this research offers a new window into the future of urban forests. In a collaboration with MIT’s Senseable City Lab, the Purdue University and Google team is embarking on a global study that re-imagines trees as living climate shields. Their digital modelling system captures the intricate dance of shade patterns throughout the seasons, revealing how strategic urban forestry could hopefully change sweltering city blocks into more naturally cooled neighbourhoods. “Every time a street mapping vehicle passes through a city now, we’re not just taking snapshots we’re watching these urban forests evolve in real-time,” said Ms Beery. “This continuous monitoring creates a living digital forest that mirrors its physical counterpart, offering cities a powerful lens to observe how environmental stresses shape tree health and growth patterns across their urban landscape.” AI-based tree modeling has emerged as an ally in the quest for environmental justice: By mapping urban tree canopy in unprecedented detail, a sister project from the Google AI for Nature team has helped uncover disparities in green space access across different socioeconomic areas. “We’re not just studying urban forests we’re trying to cultivate more equity,” said Ms Beery. The team is now working closely with ecologists and tree health experts to refine these models, ensuring that as cities expand their green canopies, the benefits branch out to all residents equally. While Tree-D fusion marks some major “growth” in the field, trees can be uniquely challenging for computer vision systems. Unlike the rigid structures of buildings or vehicles that current 3D modelling techniques handle well, trees are nature’s shape-shifters — swaying in the wind, interweaving branches with neighbours, and constantly changing their form as they grow. The Tree-D fusion models are “simulation-ready” in that they can estimate the shape of the trees in the future, depending on the environmental conditions. “What makes this work exciting is how it pushes us to rethink fundamental assumptions in computer vision,” said Ms Beery. “While 3D scene understanding techniques like photogrammetry or NeRF [neural radiance fields] excel at capturing static objects, trees demand new approaches that can account for their dynamic nature, where even a gentle breeze can dramatically alter their structure from moment to moment.” The team’s approach of creating rough structural envelopes that approximate each tree’s form has proven remarkably effective, but certain issues remain unsolved. Perhaps the most vexing is the “entangled tree problem;” when neighbouring trees grow into each other, their intertwined branches create a puzzle that no current AI system can fully unravel. The scientists see their dataset as a springboard for future innovations in computer vision, and they’re already exploring applications beyond street view imagery, looking to extend their approach to platforms like iNaturalist and wildlife camera traps. “This marks just the beginning for Tree-D Fusion,” said Jae Joong Lee, a Purdue University PhD student who developed, implemented and deployed the Tree-D-Fusion algorithm. “Together with my collaborators, I envision expanding the platform’s capabilities to a planetary scale. Our goal is to use AI-driven insights in service of natural ecosystems — supporting biodiversity, promoting global sustainability, and ultimately, benefiting the health of our entire planet.” You can download the paper at https://www.jaejoonglee.com/treedfusion/  

Sumitomo Forestry was named in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), a globally renowned ESG investment equity index. In this index, Sumitomo Forestry secured the top score in the home building industry (among 22 eligible companies) for the fourth consecutive year. Source: Timberbiz Sumitomo Forestry is also included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific Index), an index comprised of Asia Pacific companies. This is the 17th time Sumitomo Forestry has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)*1 series since it was first selected in 2005. Launched in 1999, the DJSI series are sustainability-related equity indices announced yearly by the US company S&P Dow Jones Indices. Companies are evaluated and analysed on their sustainability practices in economic, environmental, and social criteria and those that demonstrate superior performance are selected for inclusion. S&P Global tracks the performance of the world’s top 3,500 companies in terms of market capitalization, and selects the top 10% (321 companies, of which 37 companies are Japanese) in each industry for the inclusion in the DJSI World using their Corporate Sustainability Assessment. In addition to the DJSI series, Sumitomo Forestry has been selected for ESG indices adopted by Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, the world’s largest pension fund. Sumitomo Forestry has also been selected for a number of other indices like FTSE Russell’s FTSE4 Good Index Series5.

UPM has been listed as the only forest and paper industry company in the Dow Jones Global and European Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the years 2024-2025. The indices cover environmental, social and governance aspects of responsibility. Source: Timberbiz “We are committed to creating value for our customers by using sustainable, renewable resources, reducing our environmental footprint, and increasing our positive societal impact. Sustainability is a core strategic value for UPM,” Sami Lundgren, Vice President, Responsibility at UPM said. This commitment is strongly visible in the company’s updated strategy published in September. UPM’s business portfolio is based on sustainable feedstocks and fossil-free energy, positioning the company for growth in renewable fibres, advanced materials, and decarbonisation solutions, while graphic papers continue to generate strong cash flows. UPM has also successfully issued a new EUR 600 million Green Bond in 2024 under its Green Finance Framework. With the fourth issuance, UPM has further strengthened its position as one of the largest corporate Green Bond issuers in the Nordics, with a total of EUR 2,350 million issued. “These Green Bonds link our financing to our sustainability goals and support our overall strategy,” Mr Lundgren said.

It all began on a cray fishing boat with Linsay Beare’s uncle, but severe sea sickness quickly ended Mr Beare’s maritime aspirations. Source: Timberbiz “Two weeks I lasted on the boat,” Mr Beare recalls, “and still to this day I can’t go out on one.” In 1971, Mr Beare joined Woods & Forests, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a crane driver at Jubilee Sawmill for 26 years. After a brief stint with Brian Smith Transport, Linsay returned to Jubilee in 1974, working in Drymill A on moulders. He soon moved to despatch, loading and tarping rail trucks. When Ash Wednesday struck in 1983, it was all hands on deck to manage the influx of salvaged timber. Three continuous shifts were needed to process the burnt logs and cart the timber out of the forest to the Air Dry Yard. Mr Beare then joined the kilns team for several years before the shift structure changed to a 4-shift rotating roster. “Back then I felt too old to be doing nightshifts,” he said. He moved to the Air Dry Yard for 10 years until a position opened up in despatch. “I was supposed to be winding down towards retirement, and this position was day/arvo shift. I already had some experience in despatching, so I went for it.” Mr Beare has been part of the despatch crew for four years now. “I enjoy my job. I load trucks, dig out loads from the yard, walk around and scan packs. There’s plenty to do.” Known for his humour, Mr Beare makes coming to work enjoyable for those around him. He also has a passion for racing, which he shares with his son and daughter-in-law. “That is why I am still working, to pay for my habit,” he jokes. Mr Beare proudly speaks of his son, a 7-time Australian titled speedway driver with 30 state titles. “We have been lucky enough to travel all over Australia for my son’s racing.” Mr Beare, his son and daughter-in-law also race together in enduro. “I get to enjoy racing with my son and his wife, in a poor old commodore, driving it flat all day for as long as it will go, while my wife and 3 granddaughters watch, cheering us on,” he said. Reflecting on his career, he notes the significant changes he has witnessed, particularly the reduction in manual handling and the increase in automation. “I have seen the mill fitted out three times with upgrades over time.” Mr Beare values the reliability of his work at the mill, which has provided him with a stable career and the opportunity to travel the world. “At the end of the day, not a lot of people have that, you know, a reliable and stable job where you can travel the world a couple of times and still live comfortably,” he said.  

As a rural research and development corporation, Forest & Wood Products Australia plays a key role in driving innovation and fostering collaboration across the forestry sector globally. Source: Timberbiz FWPA helps facilitate collaboration by promoting initiatives and making connections via its network of industry experts, research teams and academia. Exciting opportunities exist to enhance knowledge-sharing and address shared challenges with New Zealand forestry. With a view to facilitating greater collaboration on forestry research between Australia and New Zealand, these are two key opportunities: 1: Australasian Forest Health Working Group A new trans-Tasman working group has been formed to unite Australian and New Zealand forest health and biosecurity scientists. This voluntary group provides a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and skill development, particularly for early career researchers. The initiative also aims to tackle emerging forest health and biosecurity challenges by integrating diverse expertise from fields such as social science, Indigenous knowledge, and government administration. The group plans quarterly online meetings, speed talks, and networking opportunities at conferences. Scientists and practitioners from various sectors are encouraged to join. For more information or to express interest, contact angus.carnegie@dpi.nsw.gov.au 2: IUFRO Conference: Forest Establishment and Early Growth Dynamics Scion, New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute for forestry and biomaterials, will host a global research conference in Rotorua, New Zealand from 17–21 March 2025. The event, titled “Achieving Forest Establishment Success at Scale to Address Climate, Environmental, Social, and Economic Challenges“ will feature more than 50 presentations from international experts. This conference offers a rare chance to engage with global leaders in forestry research without leaving the Australasian region. Registration options are available for the full week or individual days. To view the program or register, visit the conference website here. These initiatives underscore FWPA’s dedication to fostering regional collaboration and addressing critical forestry challenges. Please feel free to share these opportunities with colleagues and stakeholders to further strengthen the forestry sector and its collaboration across Australasia. For more information www.fwpa.com.au/contact-us/  

A Tasmanian carbon forestry initiative has marked a major milestone, with more than one million trees planted on almost 1,000 hectares of land across the state, estimated to sequester more than 300,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. Source: Timberbiz The ActivAcre program, delivered by Tasmanian plantation and natural asset management company SFM, collaborates with farmers to identify opportunities for them to lease land for tree planting. SFM Managing Director Andrew Morgan said the local initiative allowed farmers to optimise their land and diversify their on-farm revenue, providing them with a reliable source of income. “But of course the benefits of ActivAcre flow well beyond the farmer – plantation forestry is recognised globally as a key tool to mitigate climate change, capturing carbon in soil and vegetation,” Mr Morgan said. “Further to this, Australia currently has a $4 billion trade deficit in wood products, yet we have a skilled workforce with world-class infrastructure and high-quality governance, so we have a real opportunity to turn the situation around.” Mr Morgan said across Australia, sourcing larger parcels of suitable land was becoming harder, making aggregation essential, where multiple smaller land holdings are classed together to make one asset. “With the successful completion of our first full year of planting and our 2025 program nearing capacity, we are now seeking expressions of interest from landowners for our 2026 planting” he said. “We held an open ‘field’ day on the Bloomfield property in Gretna for interested landowners and farmers to learn more, ask questions and see a plantation carbon project first-hand.” Bloomfield owners Susie and Michael Parsons signed up to the ActivAcre program earlier this year. Susie Parsons said the seven-generation farming family was already benefiting from the financial return of leasing their land and could see the future opportunities it presented, both for their own property and for the environment. “The additional value proposition of planting trees is the creation of shade and shelter belts, which can increase pasture production as well as improving water efficiency, soil quality and reducing salinity, waterlogging and erosion,” Mrs Parsons said. Mr Morgan said the future-focused land management program worked closely with farmers to create unique and flexible agreements to maximises their land’s potential and ensure an ongoing, reliable income every year from planting to harvesting. “ActivAcre is unique in that every aspect of the project, from initial enquiry to carbon project registration to final plantation harvesting, is managed by SFM’s local team of highly experienced foresters, land management professionals and carbon project experts, all of whom have a deep understanding of the Tasmanian agricultural landscape,” he said. Tasmanian farmers and landowners can find out more at www.activacre.com.au

The New Zealand Government is seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value, excluding National Parks. Source: Timberbiz “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood for domestic processing and over time, boost the value of exports,” Forestry Minister Todd McClay said. “It will also provide nature-based solutions which are a key part to our climate strategy.” Through the RFI, the Government wants to understand what would make this an attractive and viable opportunity for potential partners. This includes: Interest in partnering with the government to plant trees for commercial, carbon and biodiversity purposes. What conditions and contractual arrangements the government might consider. What barriers to planting might exist and how the Government could help overcome these. “We’re open to partnering with a range of groups both domestic and international, and we will ensure commitments are upheld where land is subject to Treaty of Waitangi settlement obligations. “These partnerships represent a cost-effective approach to reducing net emissions while also delivering tangible benefits to local communities,” Mr McClay said. The RFI closes at 5pm on 28 February 2025.

New and improved agricultural levies legislation has replaced the former framework, making the levy system more user friendly for participants and making it easier for them to understand obligations. Source: Timberbiz More than 50 pieces of legislation governing over 110 levies and charges across 75 commodities and 18 bodies that receive levies are being streamlined into five Acts and subordinate legislation. Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy Matt Lowe said the new legislation would make life simpler for those interacting with it from 1 January. “From the start of 2025, the new legislation will make obligations clearer for levy payers, collection agents and bodies that receive levies, and better support industries seeking to pursue new or change existing levies,” Mr Lowe said. “More flexible and consistent, it will benefit current and future levy system participants and help industry to get the most out of the levy system. “The streamlined legislation will allow primary industries to continue to invest collectively in research and development, marketing, biosecurity activities and responses, and residue testing. “Our agricultural levy system is a long-standing, successful partnership between industry and government to facilitate industry investment in strategic activities, and the new framework will make it stronger and more effective.” Research and Development Corporations will also enjoy increased funding certainty under the new legislation. The new framework will reduce administrative costs and complexities and provide a solid foundation for continual improvement. The changes follow a review that found existing legislation was no longer fit for purpose after growing in an ad hoc fashion over the past 30 years. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has consulted extensively on the pro-posed legislation with industry groups, levy payers, collection agents and bodies that receive levies. Key features of the levy system will remain the same, such as rates and the purpose for which levies can be used, but participants may experience some administrative changes, like updated due dates and new forms. Levies are collected from farmers, producers, processors and exporters, with any proposal for new, or changes to existing, levies requiring majority agreement among levy payers. In 2023-24, the Research and Development Corporations, Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia and the National Residue Survey received just over $600 million in levy payments. The Australian Government contributed an additional $470 million in matching funding for research and development activities.