Queensland government to work with industry group Timber Queensland to revive Australian state's lagging AU$2.4B timber industry, focusing on what hardwood sawmills need from state forest and plantations

Audrey Dixon

FORTITUDE VALLEY, Australia , June 8, 2012 (press release) – Last night Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry John McVeigh announced the start of a plan to revive the lagging fortunes of Queensland’s timber industry.

Speaking at function hosted by peak industry body Timber Queensland to introduce him to the leaders of the State’s $2.4 billion timber industry, Minister McVeigh said the LNP Government is committed to a vibrant forest industry and that their approach will be different to the previous government.

He said his Department and Timber Queensland will jointly develop an industry plan to provide a road map for the future.

The Ministers statement that the plan will be a commonsense process looking at what access is required by hardwood millers to both State forest and plantations was welcomed by Industry.

Timber Queensland’s CEO Rod McInnes and Chairman Sean Gribble were both pleased to hear the new Government will stand up for the 20,000 local jobs Queensland’s timber industry underpins.

“We welcome Minister McVeigh’s fresh approach and look forward to working closely to develop a plan that will revive and grow our Industry,” said Rod McInnes.

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