The Morrison Government will invest more than $86 million over five years to support the establishment of new plantations for our future wood supply.
The Government will partner with states and territories to deliver this through a grants program, backing in a key component of the National Forest Industries Plan.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that timber was a critical national resource and the Government was committed to securing its future supply.
“This program is about getting more trees in the ground and securing an Australian supply of timber for future generations,” said the Prime Minister.
“Australia has 1.77 million hectares of plantations and we want that to grow further, that’s why we’re making the largest investment of any Australian Government in this space for more than 30 years.
“Getting more trees in the right places will help to meet future demand for wood products, which at a global scale is expected to quadruple by 2050.
“The farming, fishing and forestry sectors are projected to be worth $84 billion in production value this year and my Government will keep doing everything we can to see that grow even further.”
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said this program would have long-lasting benefits for rural and regional communities.
“This program will create jobs in regional Australia, not just in the planting phase, but in 25 or 30 years’ time when that wood is harvested and processed into a truss, a timber frame or an engineered wood product,” Minister Littleproud said.
“We want to partner with states and territories who own and manage forestry resources to plan for the future and turbo-charge this industry.
“Forestry is a renewable, sustainable industry that continues to create jobs in the regions and delivers quality, Australian-made products for this country.”
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said that this commitment was a clear indication that only a Morrison Government could be trusted to back-in the future of the forestry sector.
“In contrast to the Labor party who are intent on shutting our sustainable, world-class forest industries down, we are focused on growing them,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.
“We have worked hand-in-hand with industry to address the immediate and long-term challenges facing this sector, and will continue to back them in every step of the way.
“Whether it is opening access to carbon credits, providing support following the Black Summer bushfires, or this important $86 million investment in growing our plantation estate, our Government will always support this sector and the rural communities that rely upon it.”
For more information on the program visit: www.awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry