Australasia's home for timber news and information

Opinion: David Hutchens – An end to logging in Victoria, is a rethink needed?

At the end of 2019 Victoria’s Premier Dan Andrews announced that logging for sawn timber production will cease in 2030 despite 23 years of change, restructure and improvement in forest management since the first Regional Forest Agreements. In a way this no surprise. Labor finds rural
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Friday analysis: Small wins but wins nevertheless

There seems to have been wins all-round this week for foresters, the building industry, and the Australian Forest Products Association. Starting with the AFPA, it had a big win over the ABC with a complaint of unbalanced reporting and biased coverage being upheld. Source: Bruce Mitche
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Tasmania balancing timber and conservation for 30 years

Tasmania’s forest practices system has been balancing timber production and conservation for more than 30 years. Recently three Forest Practices Authority scientists published a paper in Forest Ecology and Management detailing how the Tasmanian forest practices system contributes to b
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Queensland readying for next bushfire season

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is getting ready for the bushfire season with preparations already under way across the state. QFES, its partner agencies and landholders undertook Operation Cool Burn between April and August each year. Source: Timberbiz “Operation Cool B
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Ultimate Renewable wins Gold Quills

Forest and Wood Products Australia’s The Ultimate Renewable branding has been named twice on the winners’ list for the 2020 International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill Awards. Source: Timberbiz For more than 40 years, the IABC’s Gold Quill Awards has recognised exce
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Timber Offsite conference deferred to June 2021

The impact of COVID-19 will continue to disrupt the world for some time and has made it necessary to defer the annual Timber Offsite Construction conference and exhibition to June next year. Source: Timberbiz The new timing will be Monday and Tuesday 21-22 June 2021 at the Crown Prome
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Unbalanced ABC reporting of RFAs confirmed

A complaint of unbalanced reporting and biased coverage of the Victorian Regional Forest Agreement made by AFPA has been upheld by the ABC. In early April ABC Radio Melbourne interviewed a member of the Goongera Environment Centre which was highly critical of the recently re-signed Vi
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Tall pole for tall ship

Foresters in Western Australia have forged a link to the sea thanks to a partnership with the WA Museum. The State’s leading history buff reached out to the Forest Products Commission (FPA) recently with a request for a couple of long, straight, strong jarrah poles suitable for masts
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Master Builders supports plans for building sector and industrial relations changes

The Prime Minister’s speech to signpost the Government’s approach to building economic recovery was encouraging on many fronts. According to Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia the Prime Minister’s recognition that there is much worse economic news to come is important espec
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HIA wants changes to building onsite award

HIA has asked the Fair Work Commission to consider changes to the Building and Construction General Onsite Award that helps employers and employees in the residential building industry stay connected despite the impacts of COVID-19. Source: Timberbiz “Home builders and trade contracto
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