MEDIA RELEASE
The announcement of the ARBRE Hub at Invermay is an exciting step forward for the future of the forest, wood and paper products industry and its workers in Tasmania.
The ARBRE Hub launched by Tasmania’s Minister for Forestry, Peter Gutwein, unites the industry, Government, and training sectors to lead forest product innovation in Tasmania. It brings together leading forestry organisations including Forico, the Km Group, Elphinstone Engineering, Timberland Pacific, IFARM, Forestry Tasmania and Norske Skog to train and upskill the next generation of forestry workers.
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ross Hampton, said “The Tasmanian Government and the businesses involved in the creation of the ARBRE Hub are to be congratulated for prioritising and supporting this great initiative.”
“Australian forest product industries are world-class. To maintain our international competiveness, we need to continue to develop new and innovative uses for the timber we harvest. By working together to boost skills in the industry, the potential for the forest, wood and paper products industry in Australia will increase dramatically.”
AFPA outlines the importance of skills and training within the forest products industry in its ‘Plantations… the missing piece of the puzzle’ policy, calling for better coordination of existing programmes for forest industry skills training around Australia.