MEDIA RELEASE
All forest industry eyes are now on the Government awaiting a response after the delivery today of the final Forest Industries Advisory Council (FIAC) Paper.
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes the release of the FIAC Paper, which clearly highlights the significant potential of the forest industry in Australia’s carbon constrained economy.
The FIAC Paper details a vision, a goal, and recommends actions in key forest policy areas including: resource security; bushfire mitigation through mechanical fuel reduction; plantation and infrastructure investment in strategic regional hubs; R&D; renewable energy and climate change policy; certification; training and skills; procurement; and community support.
Over the last 18 months FIAC has been consolidating industry feedback. FIAC has now requested the Government to respond to the Paper’s recommendations, including convening a meeting of state and territory ministers.
The Chief Executive Officer of AFPA, Mr Ross Hampton said, “With increasing international demand for sustainably sourced fibre and related forest products, Australia is well-placed to become a global leader. We anticipate a strong positive response from both the Government and the Opposition to the FIAC Paper to ensure a robust suite of policy settings and a durable strategy for the future of the forest products industry. An industry which currently supports more than 120,000 direct jobs across the full value chain, largely in regional and rural Australia, and generates some $20 billion a year.”
“With the right policy settings, the forest industry could make a far more significant contribution to meeting Australia’s emissions reductions goals, while at the same time providing much needed investment and jobs,” said Mr Hampton.
The paper has been distributed today by the co-chair of FIAC Mr Rob de Fegely and is available here.
1.06.2016 Forest Industries Advisory Council delivers final report to Government