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Systemic shortcomings in the state’s emergency response was a major finding of the Victorian parliament committee looking into the 2026 Victorian summer fires which tabled its report last week. Source: Australian Rural & Regional News Around 440,000 hectares was burned by the January fires including 120,000 hectares in the Walwa fire and more than 130,000 hectares in the Longwood fire. One person died and 451 homes were lost along with 1,110 outbuildings and 45,000 livestock deaths were recorded. Seventy-four homes were also lost in the fire that quickly swept through the central Victorian town of Harcourt. The report, compiled by the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee, heard about a number of issues relating to the cause of the fires and emergency services response; making 80 recommendations in all. The ABC reported that it highlighted “systemic shortcomings” with “fuel management, emergency communications, animal welfare response, infrastructure resilience, volunteer support, recovery coordination and community recovery.” Some of the terms of reference for the committee included considering “preparation and planning by government” and other agencies and the community, “funding, equipment and appliances” for firefighters, “resilience of critical services and infrastructure” and the “prevalence of misinformation”. The inquiry was also tasked with reviewing findings from “previous inquiries, reports and Royal Commissions” and looking at what progress had been made. A total of 480 submissions were made to the inquiry which also held a number of public hearings. The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria, Gaelle Broad, is a member of the committee which conducted the inquiry and heard harrowing first-hand stories from those involved in the fires. “The devastating 2026 summer bushfires were not simply the result of extreme weather – they were the consequence of years of poor planning, under-investment and repeated warnings to the government that went unheeded,” Ms Broad said. “The findings of the inquiry make it clear that what unfolded on the firegrounds reflected a decade of policy, governance and preparedness failures that left regional communities exposed. “Throughout the inquiry, communities shared heartbreaking stories of courage, sacrifice and frustration. Brigades described pleading for backup that never arrived. Some volunteers served on the fireground for 38 consecutive days. “Telecommunications and power failures left entire communities isolated without emergency warnings or reliable information. Families feared loved ones had been lost because they simply could not make contact. “Farmers were forced to ration feed to starving livestock, while teenagers were left to euthanise injured animals. “Local councils were expected to lead recovery efforts but were left waiting for funding while trying to support devastated communities. “More than six months later, many communities are still waiting for the recovery they were promised,” Ms Broad added. The report also found that operational Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers had declined by 26 per cent over a decade and recommended the Emergency Management Commissioner commission an external review into declining volunteer numbers. It also called for the government to commit to an “accelerated replacement of all CFA single cab frontline firefighting tankers”, finding that 802 single-cab tankers were still operational and 650 of those tankers carried members in rear seating that exposed them to the elements. Another key finding was that some residents who stayed to defend their properties had become ineligible for government assistance. The report also found that the process for people accessing relief payments was “complex and administratively burdensome” and called on the government to review the support packages and eligibility requirements for disaster payments. One positive from the inquiry is that the VicEmergency app was found to be “highly effective” as a mass communication tool and the committee suggested it may have contributed to the low fatality numbers from the fires. However, the committee also found that inconsistencies in the app’s messaging along with usability issues “contributed to community confusion” and called on Emergency Management Victoria to prioritise updates. The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has also called on the government to deliver action, not another report documenting the same failures that farmers have been warning governments about for years. VFF President Ryan Milgate said Victorian farmers are tired of paying the price for poor public land management and woefully under-resourced emergency services. “Every summer, farmers are the ones on the frontline protecting their families, livestock, neighbours and communities,” Mr Milgate said. “We continue to bear the brunt of decisions made from Spring Street and worst all of, we are left to pick up the pieces long after the fires are put out. “The reality is the government has been told what needs to change and these recommendations already exist. The question is why they haven’t been acted on?” The VFF’s submission to the Inquiry reinforced long-standing calls for practical fuel management at the public-private land boundary, greater investment in the CFA and stronger frontline firefighting capability that recognises the unique impacts bushfires have on agricultural businesses. “These findings will rub salt into the wound into CFA volunteers already seething from the outrageous Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund tax-grab,” Mr Milgate said. The Victorian government now has six months to respond to the report.

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The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the interim report of the Senate Select Committee on Productivity in Australia, saying it confirms housing affordability and supply are now critical determinants of the nation’s economic performance. Source: Timberbiz HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said the report recognises that Australia’s housing challenges can no longer be viewed solely through a housing policy lens. “The committee has recognised a reality that has become impossible to ignore: you can’t fix housing affordability without fixing productivity, and you can’t fix productivity without fixing regulation,” Ms Martin said. “Housing affordability and supply are fundamentally productivity challenges and must be viewed through that prism.” Ms Martin said HIA was encouraged by the report’s conclusion that housing affordability is a structural determinant of productivity performance. “Housing is no longer simply a single policy issue. It increasingly shapes labour mobility, workforce participation, business investment and national competitiveness.” She said Australia’s housing shortage had become a significant economic constraint. “Australia’s housing shortage is now a persistent macroeconomic constraint rather than a cyclical sectoral issue,” said Ms Martin. The report’s recommendations on housing finance, macroprudential regulation, National Construction Code reform, pattern books, planning and environmental approvals, infrastructure delivery, EPBC approvals and WHS accreditation recognise the need to address regulatory barriers that are constraining housing supply and economic growth. Ms Martin said the Productivity Commission had already highlighted the scale of the challenge. “The Productivity Commission has found that the number of homes completed per hour worked has fallen by 53 per cent. That should concern every government in Australia because we are delivering fewer homes relative to the resources being committed.” “The question is not whether the industry is less capable, but where effort is being directed. “An increasing share of industry resources was being absorbed by regulatory compliance rather than housing delivery. “Resources are increasingly consumed by approvals processes, changing codes, specialist reports and navigating multiple layers of government requirements. “Too much effort is being directed towards administering process rather than delivering outcomes.” “Every additional approval, assessment and compliance requirement adds cost, delay and uncertainty to new housing.” HIA welcomed the committee’s recognition that housing projects are affected by multiple regulatory systems that are rarely designed or administered as a single framework. “Housing delivery is not determined by any one approval. It depends on how effectively planning systems, environmental approvals, infrastructure provision, finance settings and building regulations work together. “The cumulative effect of these systems is increasing housing costs and reducing the industry’s capacity to meet demand.” Ms Martin said the committee’s support for pattern books, National Construction Code reform, improved access to EPBC approvals and stronger coordination across approval systems reflected the practical reforms needed to improve productivity while maintaining standards. “Improving productivity does not mean lowering standards. “It means ensuring regulation is proportionate, coordinated, evidence-based and focused on delivering genuine public value. Ms Martin said the committee’s findings reinforced a conclusion long identified by industry. “If we want more affordable homes, we need a more productive housing system. “That means reducing duplication, improving coordination and removing unnecessary regulatory barriers. “The Senate Committee has recognised that housing and productivity are inseparable. The challenge now is turning that recognition into meaningful reform,” Ms Martin said.

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Tasmania’s farming body TasFarmers has welcomed the Government’s announcement of an inquiry into the sale of the state’s largest farm, Rushy Lagoon. Source: Timberbiz TasFarmers President Nathan Cox said the process was clearly inappropriate, advantaged a foreign-backed buyer over Australian agricultural interests and failed to give sufficient weight to food security. “An inquiry is needed to ensure this can never happen again,” Mr Cox said. “There are better ways to invest $142 million in Northern Tasmania, ways that strengthen agriculture, create lasting regional jobs and increase food production instead of displacing it. “The real question is not whether forestry is more virtuous than dairy or beef production. It is why scarce taxpayer-backed capital was used to repurpose one of Tasmania’s most productive agricultural assets into an instrument of government climate policy. “A fraction of the Commonwealth’s $69 million investment could have supported modern dairies, smart irrigation, processing facilities, soil improvement and new agricultural technology, producing more food from the same land and lifting regional productivity. “Instead of investing in better agriculture, the Commonwealth backed a different use of the land altogether.” Mr Cox said the Commonwealth committed substantial taxpayer backing to the buyer’s project before deciding whether the foreign acquisition should be allowed to proceed. “It became financially invested in an outcome it was later required to assess. That is inexcusable and raises serious questions about the independence and integrity of the process.” Despite pressure to block the foreign acquisition of Tasmania’s largest farm for conversion into a major tree plantation generating timber and carbon credits, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers approved the sale. “Taxpayer-backed support helped place the Gresham House-managed buyer in a stronger position than Australian agricultural interests seeking to retain the property for farming,” Mr Cox said. “Rushy Lagoon could have delivered greater and more enduring economic value through dairy, beef and broader agricultural production. “The description of Rushy Lagoon as degraded or marginal farmland does not reflect its history as one of Tasmania’s largest integrated farming enterprises. “Pasture can be improved through better soil management, rotational grazing, irrigation and investment. Farmers across Australia have transformed underperforming land through relatively modest investments in fencing, water infrastructure, soil health and technology. “The answer to land requiring investment should not automatically be to remove it from food production,” said Mr Cox. Mr Cox further stated the Federal Government continued to fuel the debate with the misleading claims that Rushy Lagoon was simply a private land sale and will result in 190 jobs. “Calling it a private sale ignores the substantial taxpayer-backed finance supporting the buyer. “This was not the normal operation of a private market. Public capital helped finance the buyer, public grant funding supported the planned plantation, and federal approval enabled the foreign acquisition. “The community has already expressed a clear view. In a TasFarmers survey of 328 respondents, 99% opposed the government-subsidised sale to a foreign-owned interest and 98% opposed using government funds to purchase or convert productive agricultural land into plantation forestry. “Public money is now helping convert productive agricultural land into carbon forestry while placing existing dairy, beef-processing, contracting and regional jobs at risk. “The claim that Rushy Lagoon conversion to forestry will create 190 jobs is a fairy tale. While there may be short-term work during plantation establishment, the number of permanent local jobs is likely to be fewer than five, when compared to more than 100 ongoing jobs the property could support under intensive agricultural production. “This is a clear example of government policy directing investment away from immediate agricultural production and towards a carbon project whose claimed economic benefits will be delivered over decades. “The scheme also risks creating a perverse cycle in which productive Australian farmland is converted into carbon credits so major emitters can continue emitting, while Australia becomes increasingly dependent on cheaper imported food that competes directly with our farmers,” Mr Cox said. The Tasmania Natural Asset Trust, managed by Gresham House, was established just six days before applications for the Support Plantation Establishment Program closed, and before it owned Rushy Lagoon. It was subsequently awarded an $8.8 million taxpayer-funded grant to establish 5,194.7 hectares of softwood plantation. The grant was awarded before the Foreign Investment Review Board approved the acquisition, although the funding had not yet been released. The project also received a $69 million investment commitment from the taxpayer-owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation as part of the $142 million investment platform. “This is the central scandal now plaguing the Rushy Lagoon sale,” Mr Cox said. “It was never merely a private transaction. Commonwealth investment, federal grant funding, foreign-investment approval and carbon policy were all instrumental in enabling the proposed conversion of Tasmania’s largest farm. “This inquiry must determine how scarce public capital came to be used against Australian agricultural interests, whether the funding and approval processes were genuinely independent, and how productive farmland can be protected from government-backed market distortion in the future.”

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Artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and digital technologies are set to play an increasingly important role in Queensland’s forest and timber industry, with two of the 2026–2027 Timber Queensland Growth Scholarship recipients undertaking projects that explore how emerging technologies can improve workplace safety, product quality and manufacturing efficiency. Source: Timberbiz Timber Queensland has announced the recipients of the 2026–2027 Growth Scholarship Awards Program, which supports individuals pursuing learning and development opportunities that will strengthen both their careers and Queensland’s forest and timber industry. Timber Queensland General Manager Strategic Relations & Communications Manager Clarissa Brandt said this year’s recipients highlight an industry embracing innovation while continuing to invest in practical skills, leadership development and workforce capability. “Queensland’s forest and timber industry has always been built on innovation, and this year’s scholarship recipients demonstrate how technology, research and workforce development will help shape our future,” said Ms Brandt. “From artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to training the next generation of forestry workers and developing future operational leaders, these projects show an industry prepared to embrace new ways of working while remaining focused on people. “The scholarships support individuals with ambitious ideas that have the potential to create broader benefits for businesses, workers and the wider forest and timber supply chain.” The recipients of the 2026–2027 Awards are: $10,000 Kennedy’s Timber Award to Isaiah Denman Learning Project: Beyond the Physical: Leveraging Data and AI to Predict and Prevent Psychosocial Hazards in the Timber Industry $5,000 AKD Award to Zidi Yan Learning Project: AI Driven Treatability Prediction for Queensland Softwood Processing $5,000 HQPlantations Award to Jackson Smith Learning Project: Certificate III in Forest Operations plus Business and People Management Units $2,500 DTM Timber Award to Ian Goldie Learning Project: Certificate IV Training and Assessment Upgrade   As the recipient of the Kennedy’s Timber Award, Isaiah Denman, Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator at AKD Caboolture, will investigate how artificial intelligence, Power BI, predictive analytics and psychosocial health and safety frameworks can be used to identify workplace risks before incidents occur. His project aims to create more proactive approaches to managing fatigue, burnout and psychological health in industrial workplaces. “I want to help demonstrate that a traditional industry like timber can use emerging technologies to improve both physical and psychological safety outcomes,” said Mr Denman. “Ultimately, my goal is to help create workplaces that identify risks early, protect people and support a healthier, more sustainable workforce.” AKD Award recipient Zidi Yan, a researcher specialising in timber structures and durability, will explore how artificial intelligence, computer vision and machine learning can improve timber treatment quality assurance. The project will include participation in either the International Research Group on Wood Protection (IRG) conference or the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE) and visits to timber treatment and processing facilities to investigate how AI tools can support decision-making before timber enters the treatment process. By analysing timber characteristics such as sapwood, heartwood, density and visible defects, the project aims to help processors better predict treatment outcomes, reduce waste and improve manufacturing efficiency. “The timber industry has a significant opportunity to harness artificial intelligence and digital technologies in practical ways that improve productivity and confidence in timber products,” said Mr Yan. “My goal is to bring back knowledge, industry connections and practical ideas that can help Queensland timber processors make better and more informed decisions.” HQPlantations Award recipient Jackson Smith will undertake a Certificate III in Forest Operations combined with specialist business operations and people management training. Having grown up in a family with deep connections to the forest and timber industry, Mr Smith is seeking to build the skills needed to progress into future supervisory and leadership roles. His learning project will develop technical operational knowledge, business management capability and leadership skills to support both his personal career development and the mentoring of younger workers entering the industry. “The forestry industry is something I have always been passionate about and I want to build a long-term career within it,” said Mr Smith. “This opportunity will help me develop the skills to become a stronger leader and contribute to attracting and supporting the next generation of forestry workers.” DTM Timber Award recipient Mr Goldie, a trainer and assessor with more than three decades of forestry experience, will upgrade his Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to ensure his skills remain aligned with current national vocational education standards. Mr Goldie’s project will strengthen his ability to deliver industry training and support Sunchip Group’s innovative simulator-based training program, which is used to engage school students and future workers with careers in forestry. “One of the most important challenges facing our industry is developing the workforce needed for the future,” said Mr Goldie. “Maintaining contemporary training qualifications will help me continue supporting new entrants to the industry and build the skills our sector needs to remain strong and sustainable.” Ms Brandt said the breadth of this year’s projects demonstrates the industry’s commitment to future-focused thinking. “Whether it’s applying AI to improve safety and manufacturing performance, developing future leaders, or strengthening workforce training, these projects will deliver benefits well beyond the individual recipients,” she said. “The ongoing support of our Foundation Partner Kennedy’s Timber, Diamond Partners AKD and HQPlantations, and Ruby Partner DTM Timber ensures the Growth Scholarship Program continues to help develop the talented people who will drive Queensland’s forest and timber industry into the future.”

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Tasmania’s farmers, forest landowners and rural communities are being encouraged to have their say on the future operation of the Forest Practices Regulations, with public consultation now open. Source: Timberbiz Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Felix Ellis, said the Regulations are an important part of Tasmania’s forest management framework and affect how many landowners manage their properties. “Whether you’re a farmer, a forest grower, or manage land, these Regulations play a role in how you use and manage your property,” Minister Ellis said. “We want to hear directly from the people who deal with the system day-to-day about what’s working well and where improvements could be made. “We know these Regulations play a role in the way many Tasmanian farmers and landowners manage their land, so we’re providing plenty of time for people to have their say. “Feedback will be considered as it is received, and if there are immediate improvements that can be made, we will take action.” In addition to an online consultation portal, consultation will be undertaken directly with farmers, forest growers, industry groups, councils and other stakeholders over the coming months to better understand their experiences with the current rules and identify opportunities for improvement. Consultation will also help inform future improvements to the Regulations while the Government continues to assess potential impacts from the Australian Government’s national environmental law reforms. “While the Regulations must be remade before they expire in April 2027, they can be amended at any time,” Minister Ellis said. “Feedback received through this consultation will help inform future improvements, ensuring the Regulations remain practical, effective and fit for purpose. “Our goal is to create a system that strikes the right balance by supporting productive farming and forestry, providing certainty for landowners and communities, and safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.” Tasmanians can provide feedback through the online consultation portal here. Consultation closes on 31 March 2027.

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The Softwoods Working Group (SWG) is calling for an immediate $18 million commitment to regional road upgrades, putting transport infrastructure at the centre of a five-point campaign it will take to candidates ahead of the 2027 NSW election.   Source: Tumbarumba Times The group’s Securing and Growing – Plantation Timber Possibilities for the South West Slopes NSW roadmap argues further investment is needed to support an industry it says provides more than 5500 regional jobs and contributes almost $2.3 billion to the regional economy each year. Alongside road infrastructure, the road map seeks action on bushfire preparedness, blackberry management, investment in new plantations and the potential establishment of a Strategic Plantation Economic Zone. SWG executive officer Carlie Porteous said improving regional roads was a priority given the volume of freight generated by the industry. “The region moves a significant amount of product, up to 5.7m tonnes per year,” Ms Porteous said. “In order to do this safely and more efficiently, we would encourage the NSW government and candidates to the upcoming election to look at the need for better regional road funding and give consideration to the Regional Local Government preparedness program which aims to level the playing field for small regional councils to access funding for critical infrastructure upgrades.” The $18 million road package includes proposed works on Batlow Road, Bombowlee Creek Road and Wagga-Tumbarumba Road. “There are a number of bridges that we have had independently assessed for safety and volume of traffic and are considered as ‘urgent’,” Ms Porteous said. “These three bridges; Blue Cut Bridge, Jacksons Bridge and Glenroy Bridge are too narrow with limited visibility on entry. “We have real concerns about the safety of all users of these bridges.” The roadmap also proposes overtaking lanes at three sections of Batlow Road and upgrades to a section of Wagga-Tumbarumba Road, with the broader package aimed at improving safety and freight efficiency for local commuters, visitors and heavy industry traffic. SWG is also proposing a Regional LGA Road Funding Preparedness trial, which would provide participating councils with up to $400,000 each year for surveys, designs, environmental assessments, cultural heritage studies and road safety audits needed to make infrastructure projects “shovel ready”. The roadmap argues regional councils in the South West Slopes manage between 82 and 186 metres of road network per resident, compared with two to three metres per resident in metropolitan councils, leaving them at a disadvantage when preparing projects for infrastructure funding. Ms Porteous said the campaign was intended to address broader community concerns as well as the needs of the timber sector. “The SWG has a unique membership that includes local government hence all our asks not only address industry concern, but concerns of the community,” she said. “There are community critical asks in our election document such as better management and coordination of blackberries, better bushfire outcomes and safer local roads.” On bushfire preparedness, the roadmap calls for a permanent plantation timber representative on the Bushfire Coordination Committee, greater recognition of plantation assets in bushfire risk management plans, continued funding for the NSW Fire Trails Policy and the removal of barriers preventing plantation forestry crews assisting across different land tenures during fires. The campaign also seeks more coordinated management of invasive blackberries, measures to encourage investment in new plantation timber and consideration of a Strategic Plantation Economic Zone for the South West Slopes. Such a zone would identify suitable locations for plantation development and coordinate planning, infrastructure, regulation and government spending on issues including transport, fire and weeds. Ms Porteous said SWG had launched the campaign document to its members on 7 August and would seek to put its proposals before all sides of government and as many candidates as possible ahead of the election. “The SWG values its ongoing relationship with the NSW government and will happily work closely with the next NSW government on practical and solutions-based outcomes,” she said.

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