Industry welcomes LNP’s $6 million program for forestry and timber

TimberQueensland
Nov 10, 2017
2 min read

The Queensland industry has welcomed the $6 million program and policy commitments recently announced by the Liberal National Party (LNP) to support the forest and timber industry if elected.

Timber Queensland Chief Executive Mick Stephens said ‘This program would go a long way to unlocking additional value and regional jobs from the industry over the next decade.’

‘We are pleased the LNP has consulted with industry and focused on a number of key policies to improve resource security and the business environment for innovation and investment.’

‘We particularly acknowledge the election commitment of $4 million to support a new Farm Forestry Centre to be established in Gympie. This would greatly enhance research and extension for private forestry activities, which can boost resource supply and deliver multiple agricultural benefits such as integrated timber and livestock production,’ Mr Stephens said.

Key initiatives announced by the LNP include:

maintaining state research capacity for forestry and wood science technology
building on the 2012 Timber Industry Plan
$2 million to support softwood and hardwood timber supply chains, from growing and
harvesting to log processing and advanced timber and engineered wood product manufacturing; and
reinstatement of Forestry in the Department’s title and a stronger voice for the sector in Cabinet.

The LNP’s timber industry statement can be found here.

‘The policy commitments made by the LNP are good news for the timber industry. Given its importance to regional Queensland, we are asking for bipartisan support from all sides of politics to a positive timber growth agenda,’ Mr Stephens said.

‘Full implementation of our election policy agenda could generate over 500 jobs and $80 million in output in the first five years, increasing to 1000 jobs and $180 million by 2050. This includes opportunities in southern and central Queensland as well as in Far North Queensland and Cape York’.

The Timber Queensland election policy agenda can be found here.