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South Australian forest industries to branch out with stand-alone industry organisation

South Australian forest product industries’ decision to establish a standalone Association marks an important
new phase in the sector’s state-focused policy advocacy, following five years of gains by the inaugural AFPA SA
branch, Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) CEO Mr Ross Hampton announced today.

Mr Hampton commended the SA forest industries on their commitment to play a greater role in the new
association’s governance and leadership, which reflected the importance of the sector to the SA economy and
its potential for growth.

“SA’s forest product industries are a vital part of the state’s economy, contributing more than $2 billion
annually and providing direct and indirect employment to some 13,000 people,” Mr Hampton said.

“The AFPA SA branch has served the sector well since its creation five years ago, at a time when the forest
products industries had no local peak body representing their interests to the SA policy and lawmakers, and it
is pleasing to see the sector’s voice develop and mature over that time to the extent that they are now ready
to step out on their own and chart their own course.”

“The AFPA SA branch can be proud of its record and has positioned the sector well to take this next step. It has
delivered important gains for all forest industry companies in areas like water policy, firefighting and bushfires,
the safety and welfare of the workforce, a ‘local processing first’ agreement with major tree growers, and
improved road infrastructure.”

“AFPA SA was also instrumental in establishing a state ‘Parliamentary Friends of Forest Industries’ group which
continues to be championed by Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Hon Tim
Whetstone and Shadow Minister for Forestry Hon Clare Scriven.”

“An industry led process is now underway to establish the South Australian Forest Products Association
(SAFPA). It will have broad membership and include all sectors from smaller sawmills, to contractors, to larger
growers and processors from the forest industries across the state.”

”As the AFPA SA Branch will be concluding, State Manager Leon Rademeyer will be departing on 1 July after
leading the branch for almost two years. Leon has been an effective State Manager and departs with our
gratitude for his stewardship of the industry concerns over this time.”

“It is expected to take several months to complete the creation of SAFPA including recruitment of its first Chief
Executive Officer. AFPA will continue to work closely with the new Association, as we do with all state forest
industries associations around Australia.”

“During this time media inquiries will be handled by AFPA.”

The original media release can be viewed here: 200605 Media Release – SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FOREST INDUSTRIES TO BRANCH OUT WITH STAND-ALONE INDUSTRY ORGANISATION

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