Victorian Government ends Native Timber Harvesting

In the May budget handed down by the Victorian Government, it announced that it had brought forward a decision to end the native timber harvesting to 1st January 2024, just over six months away. The original decision was slated for six years’ time, so to almost all industry stakeholders this was a shock decision. (Read it on ABC here).

Forestry, industry and union groups are almost all united in their shock and dismay at the decision. They claim that the concept of native timber harvesting has been subject to a misinformation campaign by environmental groups, and multiple unfavourable court decisions, for many years which has culminated in this decision.

Despite the misinformation, the native timber harvesting industry was extremely conscious and passionate about their work in the preservation and responsible use of the forests.

Hundreds of jobs will be lost, along with a longstanding and passionate industry. Instead of using locally manufactured and sourced timber, Victorians will now use more imported species. With imported species, Victorians don’t have the guarantee over the sustainable forest management practices that are used. In the overall, it is a loss for Victorians and indeed all Australians.

You can read the statement issued by the Australian Forest Products Association (AusFPA) here, and the statement issued by Responsible Wood here.