The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has today launched its Federal Election policy platform aimed at illustrating the role Australian timber can play addressing the current housing crisis and supplying our nation's future housing needs, the importance of securing the future of Australian grown and recycled timber and wood-fibre to enhance our sovereign capability, and promoting healthy and sustainable native and plantation forestry to provide Australians with the timber they need and fight climate change.
AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said, "I'm proud to launch Australian Timber. Australia's Future. This document lays the groundwork for what the full supply chain of Australia's forestry sector needs to thrive and I encourage all political parties to commit to the platform's requests in full."
A summary of the policy requests under our three themes includes:
Meeting Australia's future housing needs and solving the current housing crisis
- Delivery of a Prefabricated and Innovative Housing Summit and Wood First Policy, as well as policies to boost land supply, encourage greater take-up of modular and prefabricated timber dwellings and incentivise more timber in construction
- A commitment for an Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme to incentivise timber used in the built environment and greater uptake of modern methods of construction
Strengthening our sovereign capability by promoting Australian grown and recycled product
- Introducing Country of Origin Labelling for timber
- $200 million to fund a Wood and Fibre Innovation, Recycling and Energy Efficiency Program
- Developing a National Fire Response Plan and National Timber Security Agreement
- $200 million to extend the Plantation Establishment Grants Program
Ensuring healthy and sustainable forests to address climate change
- Continued Federal Government support for native forestry consistent with IPCC advice
- $40 million to help crack-down on illegally logged timber
- Establishment of a market demand mechanism for the National Nature Repair Compliance Market that enhances sustainable timber
"Australia's forestry sector has enormous potential to contribute more to the national economy, provide new, skilled employment as we innovate our use of wood and fibre, help address national housing shortages and meet national emissions reduction targets through fighting climate change," Diana Hallam said.
"We strongly welcome and acknowledge the industry support provided by recent Federal Governments, Oppositions, other political parties and independents over recent years. We need a continued partnership with government and policy makers, to make the most out of our world leading forest industry here in Australia.
"AFPA will advocate strongly for our platform ahead of the Federal Election and we look forward to positive conversations with all sides of politics," Diana Hallam concluded.
