Federal Government Support for SEQ Hardwood Industry Welcome

Today’s announcement by Federal Minister for Forestry and Conservation, Wilson Tuckey, of a five-million-dollar Federal Government funded program to support the native timber industry in south-east Queensland is most welcome.  Queensland Timber Board CEO, Rod McInnes, said “we are very pleased with this announcement from the Federal Minister and the five million dollar funding foreshadowed by the Federal Government program, which, together with the State Government’s ten million dollar Forest Industry Development package will ensure that the hardwood processing industry in south-east Queensland has plenty of opportunity to capitalise on it’s hard won resource security in the 25 year wood supply agreements provided by the Beattie Government last year.”

“It is indeed pleasing”, Mr McInnes went on to say, “that the Federal Government is now able to participate in the native forest processing industry in south-east Queensland and with a reasonable amount of funding to ensure that those processing businesses are able to maintain their competitive edge.  We look forward to seeing the guidelines for the Forest Industry Development Program announced by Minister Tuckey today and trust that they will be available to all south-east Queensland native hardwood Sawmillers.”