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The Tasmanian Forest Products Association has welcomed a commitment by the Federal Labor Party to increase funding for the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme by $95 million, as well as promising a review into the modernisation of the program, if it wins the May 3 Federal election. Source: Timberbiz Speaking following the announcement, TFPA Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel said the modernisation of the scheme was vital to keeping Tasmanian businesses competitive. “The TFES model, as it stands, is no longer fit for purpose. This scheme was set up almost 50 years ago and it’s clear it’s no longer working for Tasmanian businesses,” Mr Steel said. “That’s why we welcome Labor’s commitment to increasing funding for the scheme – to ensure correct cost recovery as well as a full review into the modernisation of the TFES.” Mr Steel said making sure the scheme is fit for purpose is more important now more than ever. “Australia is currently in a cost-of-living crisis. It’s being particularly felt here in Tasmania, not only by consumers but also by businesses trying to sell to the other states,” Mr Steel said. “Being an island, Tasmania is at a distinct disadvantage compared to other states when shipping goods to their markets. That’s why the Whitlam Government introduced the TFES in the 1970s to go some way to level the playing field between mainland and Tasmanian businesses. “However, to work properly it’s essential to regularly review the scheme to ensure its original purpose remains relevant.” This announcement brings bipartisan commitment to the modernisation of the scheme – ensuring it remains fit for purpose into the future. The Federal Coalition has promised that if elected it will oversee a review of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme and support Tasmanian businesses to the tune of $62 million while that review takes place. “It’s pleasing to see that both sides of politics recognise the importance of the TFES in allowing Tasmanian businesses to compete on the mainland,” Mr Steel said. “The TFPA looks forward to continuing to work with both sides of politics to ensure other issues for Tasmanian forestry remain on the political radar.”

The Federal Coalition will back in Australia’s renewable forestry industry with a rock-solid commitment of no more lockups. Shadow Forestry Minister Senator Jonno Duniam, who was joined at Neville Smith Forest Products in Launceston by all of the Liberal’s 2025 Tasmanian election candidates at the weekend, said that the announcement backed in the vital industry. Source: Timberbiz “Only the Coalition can be trusted to stand up for Australia’s native forest industry,” Senator Duniam said. “Our forest industry is renewable, it’s sustainable, it provides a vital product that we need, and importantly it sustains regional communities. “A Dutton Coalition Government will not support any further bans on native forestry. “Not one more tree, not one more stick will be locked up under us.” Senator Duniam said that the Coalition position on forestry provided a stark contrast to that offered by Labor. “Shutting down native forestry is in Labor’s DNA. They’ve done it in Western Australia, they’ve done it in Victoria, and they tried to do it in Tasmania the last time they were in power with the Greens in 2010-2013,” Senator Duniam said. “On Thursday, Labor’s rookie candidate for the seat of Bass spoke the truth when she revealed that she believed that native forestry should be shut down,” he said, On Thursday, during a live radio interview with ABC Northern Tasmania, the Labor candidate for the northern seat of Bass, Jess Teesdale, conceded she wanted to see the state government end the practice. It came after she said the federal Labor government would not intervene to override the states. The ABC later reported that later the candidate, who is standing for a federal election for the first time, issued a clarification. “The Albanese Labor government is not changing its policy on native forestry logging,” it read. “These are state forests managed by the Tasmanian Liberal Government. “We support the jobs and the communities that rely upon this industry.” Senator Duniam said there was no doubt, given half the chance, Labor will “try to shut our forestry industry down – especially with the Greens likely pulling their strings in a minority government”. “The only way to support and safeguard our forestry industry is to vote for the Coalition,” he said. Speaking after the announcement, TFPA Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel said the industry is pleased the Coalition plans to back all forms of our sustainable industry. “Peter Dutton’s commitment to all forms of forestry – including our sustainable native sector – provides the certainty our industry needs to invest and grow our businesses for years to come,” Mr Steel said. “Tasmania’s forest industry is predominantly based in rural and regional towns, so the ability to plan and invest for the long term means our businesses can support the communities that they live and work in into the future. “News that a Coalition Government will provide $40 million in matched grants to establish a new Timber Manufacturing Expansion Program will further assist local businesses to value add on-island and will work hand-in-hand with the Tasmanian Government’s on-island processing grants. “Recommitment to the Coalition’s TFES improvements is also welcomed and following the success of Tasmania’s Permanent Timber Production Zone (PTPZ) program, it’s pleasing to see the Liberal, if elected, will roll out Similar zones across Australia. “Today’s announcement shows that the Liberal Party is committed to protecting our sustainable industry into the future, and we look forward to receiving similar strong commitments from the Labor Party in the coming weeks.”

The Australian Forest Products Association wants Federal Labor and the Coalition to ensure their political support for Australia’s sustainable native forestry is clearly communicated. Source: Timberbiz The sector supports the livelihoods of thousands of Australians, while millions more benefit from the essential and sought after products the sector manufactures for our everyday life, AFPA Chief Executive Officer Diana Hallam said on Friday. The Coalition at the weekend said it would back in Australia’s forestry industry with a rock-solid commitment of no more lock-ups. “The time has come in this Federal Election Campaign for Federal Labor and the Coalition to express their unequivocal support for Australia’s native forestry sector and that they’ll stand by that support in the event of a hung parliament next term. These are essential industries that Australia cannot live without and require strong Commonwealth support and a political mandate to operate. We need to know where they stand,” Ms Hallam said. The AFPA’s call to the major parties follows comments on Thursday by the Labor candidate for the northern seat of Bass, Jess Teesdale that she wanted to see the end of native logging. Her office later issued a clarification, saying that “the Albanese Labor government is not changing its policy on native forestry logging”. “These are state forests managed by the Tasmanian Liberal Government,” it said. “We support the jobs and the communities that rely upon this industry.” Ms Hallam said the AFPA acknowledged the comment was walked back and labelled a mistake. “But a clear statement from Federal Labor, as well as the Coalition on their support for native forestry, not just in Tasmania, but nationally, is required – just as Prime Minister Albanese and the Coalition provided ahead of the 2022 Federal Election. “Native forestry operations are governed by the Federal-State Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) framework – thereby both the Commonwealth and States are required to work together, and a mandate is required from both levels of government. “This sector is essential for Australia’s sovereign capability in timber and wood-fibre resources, for the manufacturing of essential and everyday products and to underpin many communities that rely on the sector for direct employment and economic activity. Many of those communities are in regional Australia – and indeed, many in the federal electorate of Bass. “Native forestry has been forced to bear the brunt of constant and unwarranted attacks from radical and so-called green activists who are hell bent on wanting to destroy an industry Australia cannot live without. “Both sides of federal politics need to be united in their support for native forestry. The communities and families that rely on this wonderful sector deserve to have the backing of whichever major Party forms Australia’s next Federal Government,” Ms Hallam said.

The Victorian State Government has been blasted for not supporting the businesses it promised to assist in shutting down the native timber industry. Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the State Government was applying criteria that stopped it assisting the very businesses it promised to help. Source: Timberbiz “On August 23, 2023, Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney put out a media release stating the Andrews Labor Government would support businesses that were impacted but not licensed to VicForests and the media release cited firewood sellers, guitar makers and seed collectors as examples,” he said. “But 18 months later and firewood sellers, Tim and Andrea Knight – the very type of business that was stated would be supported, are not. “They are now told the forestry transition support packages for businesses are being directed towards those businesses with a contractual relationship with VicForests, or businesses that offered specialised services to either VicForests or sawmills. “However, the original statement from Minister Tierney said businesses would be supported that were not licensed to VicForests. “The Knights have also been told they are classified as ‘retailers’ and can therefore source their product from elsewhere or sell alternative products.” Mr Bull said that this raised three points: They were purchasing directly from VicForests, so how are they not eligible? Secondly, they simply cannot purchase firewood elsewhere at an affordable level with the timber industry having closed. Thirdly, regardless of the above, there is no mention of retailers being excluded in the original announcement or media release. Mr Bull pointed out a further anomaly. “Trucking company, Pelz Haulage, had a large part of its business servicing mills, among other things removing the sawdust,” he said. “The correspondence to the Knights says businesses that offered specialised services to sawmills (like Pelz Haulage) will be covered. “But there is no explanation as to why Pelz Haulage is not being compensated. “This is all happening while we have timber transition money being spent on rubbish like (quoted from the latest Labor media release): Upskilling community members to help identify future economic opportunities, and Identifying initiatives by local Innovation Working Groups through Local Development Strategies. “This will amount to nothing and is money that that should be going to those whose livelihoods have been taken away or impacted,” Mr Bull said. “We now have a new Minister in Ros Spence, who has in the past shown a better understanding and more rational approach, and I have asked her to intervene and assist these businesses as her predecessor promised.”  

Giving in to Federal Greens policies would wipe an astonishing $4 billion annually off Tasmania’s GSP and destroy 15,500 jobs, according to a simple review of ABS data, according to the Liberal Member for Bass Michael Ferguson. Source: Timberbiz “The Greens have made it clear that they want to shut down Tasmania’s job-rich mining, aquaculture and forestry industries,” Mr Ferguson said. He said that based on the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, approximately 15,500 Tasmanians were employed in these industries, collectively contributing $4 billion to the State’s economy each year. “The Liberal Party value these jobs and these people. Tasmania needs these vital industries,” Mr Ferguson said. “That’s a whopping 10.5 per cent of Tasmania’s GSP that would be at massive risk when Labor does a deal with the Greens to form Government. “To put it another way, Tasmanian households would be $17,000 worse off each and every year,” he said. “This is before the Greens kill off our defence industries, our advanced manufactures and other productive industries.” Mr Ferguson said that based on Labor’s failure to genuinely and quickly stand up for aquaculture jobs in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmanians were right to be fearful of a re-elected Labor government in Canberra, propped up and held hostage by the Greens. “Tasmanians have seen the Labor-Green nightmare before, from 2010 to 2014. Tasmania went into recession, and 10,000 Tasmanians were sent to the unemployment scrap heap,” he said. “The impacts are still being felt 10 years later, and Tasmanians will never forget. “That’s why we unashamedly say – Tasmania can’t afford to risk another Labor-Green Government.”