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QLD construction will stall without support from all

QLD construction will stall without support from all

The plantation timber industry provides more employment, delivers more timber products through manufacturing which is an urgent need for Queensland’s Big Build,” ACBF chair Dr Ken Henry said. 
 

QLD construction will stall without support from all 

Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation welcomes the Queensland Government’s commitment towards expanding the state’s plantation timber industry as part of a $200 million funding commitment, and is seeking bipartisan support in the lead-up to the October Queensland election.  

The announcement of the Queensland Sustainable Timber Industry Framework on Tuesday is a major step towards ensuring the supply of timber required for Queensland and Australia’s housing targets, while also paving the way towards unlocking new economic opportunities in managing Queensland’s native forests.  

Despite leading Australia’s construction boom, Queensland lags behind all eastern states in softwood timber production. However, that could change after the Miles Government’s pledge to increase the supply of critical softwood plantation timber which accounts for almost all the wood required for construction.  
 
With four months until the state election, ACBF is calling for the Liberal National Party to match this commitment to ensure Queensland will have the timber needed to meet its housing and infrastructure targets, as we move away from native forest logging to a full plantation-based timber industry.  

“The plantation timber industry provides more employment, delivers more timber products through manufacturing which is an urgent need for Queensland’s Big Build,” ACBF chair Dr Ken Henry said.

“The best way to secure jobs in the timber industry in Queensland is by supporting timber plantations and increasing the scope of timber manufacturing. Plantations provide 6000 jobs in Queensland and are the largest source of employment in the state’s timber industry. With the appropriate government support, more jobs for Queenslanders can be created through driving industry innovation. 

ACBF welcomes the establishment of a Stakeholder Advisory Group to oversee a new approach to the future of Queensland timber supply, that brings all perspectives of the supply chain together, including construction, housing, forestry, conservation, unions, agriculture and First Nations.

“For too long, the dialogue in forestry has been combative and focused on an arbitrary argument between conservationists and foresters. The Stakeholder Advisory Group resets the dialogue by bringing all relevant players with a stake in sustainable timber supply for Queensland to the table,“ Henry said.  

“We are excited about the opportunity this presents for protecting Queensland’s natural assets and utilising their full economic potential through the use of carbon credits.”

Commitments in the Framework create the opportunity for investment into our native forests through state-first comprehensive forest mapping, data and high-integrity carbon and biodiversity credits that will fund jobs in forest and land management. This ensures our native forests remain the country’s carbon sinks as well as home to our iconic wildlife, like koalas and the greater glider.

“Our native forests are not only home to our rich biodiversity, but present Australia with its greatest tool to draw down carbon emissions. Forests sequester carbon at mass scale and must be managed effectively so they are preserved for future generations,” Henry said.  

While the announcement is a significant stride towards a full-plantation industry, ACBF is concerned by the continuation of native forest logging permitted on state land in Queensland. ACBF will continue to advocate for the cessation of native forest logging. 
 

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