Providing certainty for Tasmanian native forestry sawmillers

Jeremy Rockliff, Premier
Felix Ellis, Minister for Resources

A re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government will extend all existing native wood supply contracts for 14 Tasmanian sawmillers beyond the current 2027 expiry date, to 2040.

Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, said that with State Labor Governments across the country ending native forestry and demand for wood increasing, the Liberals know that Tasmanian businesses need resource certainty for the future.

“This is why we announced yesterday that we would make available up to 158,000 additional cubic metres of sawlog to industry by unlocking the State's Wood Bank,” the Premier said.

“With this additional volume coming online, we are now able to extend wood supply contracts will provide new certainty for multi-generational Tasmanian businesses.

“This is certainty to invest, grow and create jobs.”

A re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government will also update Sustainable Timber Tasmania's Ministerial Charter to focus on supporting the development of Tasmanian based wood processing, as it has done in past years.

Minister for Resources, Felix Ellis, said the destruction of native forestry by State Labor Governments in mainland states has put new pressures on Tasmanian forestry.

“Updating STT's Ministerial Charter will ensure that its focus continues to be squarely on backing in Tasmanian industry because Tasmanian wood should support Tasmanian jobs,” Minister Ellis said.

“All of this is on top of the support provided to help Tasmanian sawmillers and processers upgrade and move further up the value chain through our On-Island Processing Program.

“A re-elected majority Liberal Government will build on the success of our On-Island Processing Program by committing an additional $5 million to this program.

“Already, this program has supported upgrades and projects across Tasmania, helping local businesses turn existing wood supplies, as well as residues, into higher-value products.

“This includes projects such as McKay Timber's truss plant facilities for the manufacture of wall and roof trusses and upgraded finger jointing and laminating plant.”

The Liberal Government has been the strongest supporter of the forestry sector since its election in 2014.

Minister Ellis said that under the Liberals’ watch, forestry has had the confidence and security to invest and grow. Jobs, investment, wood production and exports are up.

“It's a far cry from the desperate days of the Labor-Green Government when forestry was gutted and two out of every three jobs in the sector lost.

“Labor simply cannot be trusted on forestry. 

“Given half a chance they will do a deal again with the Greens and the Coalition of Chaos which would shut down an industry which is vital to our building sector and also providing fibre for a plastic-free future.”

Only a re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government can be trusted to deliver a 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future and stand up for the State’s innovative and sustainable forestry sector.