Lia Finocchiaro
A forestry hub could be built in the Northern Territory if the Country Liberal Party (CLP) wins the state election on 22 August. The CLP yesterday announced it would support the creation of the hub in elected to government and provide $100,000 to promote the industry and its research and development work. Source: Timberbiz
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro will lead the CLP into the election attempting to take back power after the party’s landslide loss in 2016 left it with just two seats in Parliament.
The Australian Forest Products Association has joined the new Forest Industry Association Northern Territory in welcoming the CLP’s election commitment to support the creation of a Regional Forest Industry Hub in the Territory.
The CLP’s support of a hub reflects the growing importance of timber in the Top End with a new research project managed by Forest and Wood Products Australia announced in July to investigate the potential for commercial Indigenous forestry in the Northern Territory’s East Arnhem Land.
There are already timber operations underway in the Tiwi and Bathurst islands.
The Federal Government committed $9 million for nine Hubs across the country as part of its National Forest Industries Plan.
Hubs so far have been funded for:
- South West Western Australia,
- Green Triangle – South Australia and Victoria,
- North/North West – Tasmania,
- North East New South Wales,
- Gippsland, Victoria,
- South West Slopes New South Wales,
- Central West New South Wales,
- South East Queensland,
- North Queensland.
AFPA Chief Executive Ross Hampton said the Federal Government had made an enormously positive contribution to the future of forest industries in Australia by announcing and providing funding for hubs in key forest industry locations.
“There is great merit in the decision by the CLP to recognise the large role which forest industries play in the north of the Top End. AFPA will continue to encourage the Federal Government to also recognise this area for both its current and future forest industry potential, by declaring it a Federal Regional Forestry Industry Hub,” Mr Hampton said.
The chairman of FIANT Frank Miller said the announcement was a welcome one.
“It is great to see the CLP show they are prepared to support an industry which currently produces around $115 million worth of timber products annually, and has major potential for further expansion,” Mr Miller said.
“While Hubs are a federal initiative, political support from a Northern Territory Government would mean it is a step closer to being a reality,” he said.
“On top of that the CLP’s $100,000 financial commitment for promotion and research will help get the word out to here and everywhere that forestry has a big future here.”
