6 March 2023
The Australian Forest Products Association NSW has today released its six-point plan to grow the state’s forestry, timber and paper sector, and will be seeking the backing of all political parties and candidates for these policy priorities ahead of the NSW Election on 25 March.
AFPA NSW Chief Executive Officer Victor Violante said NSW’s essential forest industries need policy certainty to drive investment and innovation to continue to provide the sustainable building materials and paper packaging that we all depend on.
“NSW forest industries employ more than 21,000 people across the state and inject billions of dollars into the state economy every year,” Mr Violante said.
“We rely on forest industries in our everyday lives – from the timber to build our homes, the paper and cardboard packaging our food comes in, the pallets that transport our food, and the firewood to heat our homes.”
AFPA NSW’s six-point plan calls for parties and candidates to:
• Commit to growing the softwood timber plantation estate to secure our future housing timber supply and help NSW meet Net Zero By 2050
• Provide certainty for our sustainable hardwood timber workers by committing to no reduction in timber production forests and no job losses
• Adopt a NSW Wood Encouragement Policy to prioritise the use of local timber in government infrastructure projects
• Support initiatives that will unlock the potential of renewable forest products including paper and cardboard in the circular economy
• Invest in infrastructure projects that optimise timber supply chains and support timber processing innovation
• Invest in bushfire preparedness, active forest management and forest restoration for healthier, more bushfire-resilient forests
“The 2023 NSW election is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the next State Government to stand up for regional jobs, to grow domestic manufacturing jobs and secure our future housing timber supply by backing our sustainable, renewable forest industries.
“NSW forest industries urge all political parties and candidates contesting the NSW election to commit to these key policies that will support our industries to thrive, innovate and play a greater role in NSW’s circular economy,” Mr Violante concluded.
AFPA NSW’s six-point plan, Backing Our Sustainable Forest Industries, is available here.