When Australians go to the polls on May 21st, they need to know what the major sides of politics will deliver for Australia’s forest industries if elected to form the next federal government, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Ross Hampton said today.
“Not only do Australia’s forest industries support the employment of 180,000 Australians and generate $24 billion annually for the national economy, the products we create build new homes and lock up carbon, helping fight climate change. Forest industries are a solution to modern day issues, but we need the next federal government to recognise that by committing to our Federal Election 2022 Plan for Growth,” Ross Hampton said.
“The four themes under which more detailed policy requests are included in the Plan for Growth, are:
- Rapidly delivering on the bipartisan agreement of an additional one billion new production trees to meet Australia’s future timber needs
- Ensure hardwood supplies for floors and other high value uses continue through no more forest lock ups
- Turbocharge the job creating, value adding new fibre-based industries by establishing the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI) in Launceston
- Enhance our world leading pulp, paper and packaging sector to allow it to play a larger role in moving Australia to a recyclable bioeconomy replacing plastics
“AFPA will engage closely with both the Coalition and Federal Labor throughout this election campaign to secure the best deal for Australia’s forest industries, which are becoming so much more critical for our economy, society and environment,” Ross Hampton concluded.
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