Australian carbon offset organisation Greenfleet welcomed the announcement to remove the floor price and link Australia’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) with the European Union (EU) ETS. Source: Timberbiz

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has launched a radio advertising campaign over fears 1000 timber industry jobs are at risk in South Australia. The CFMEU said that high log prices are threatening the viability of local operations. Sources: AAP, Business Spec

Tasmanian Aborigines have thrown their support behind industry groups who have pulled out of the forestry peace talks. Although they are not official signatories the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said it would follow the associations’ lead as they lacked support from conservation groups

According to the Sydney Morning Herald insolvency firms are circling Tasmanian woodchip exporter Gunns, jockeying for the job of taking on management of the company should it fall into administration following a $904 million loss. Sources: Sydney Morning Herald, ABC News, Business Spe

Russia's membership to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is not expected to reflect in rising timber imports until next spring what it signals is a reduction in high tariffs on timber exports from Russia. Source: UUTISET

Ashrita Furman, a New York based Guinness record holder has built a 50-feet-long tennis racket and claimed it to be the largest in the world. Furman and 20 others built the racket within seven days. Sources: Google News, The Economic Times

Metcash has adjusted earnings guidance after assessing its June capital raising and recent initiatives including taking full ownership of Mitre 10 hardware. The company expected an earnings-per-share (EPS) dilution of between one and three percent in fiscal 2013 compared with underlyi

Construction on new homes has slumped to its lowest level in a decade, prompting fresh calls from Australia's housing industry for governments to do more to support the sector. Residential construction fell 1.9% in the June quarter, in seasonally adjusted terms, to its weakest level s

The timber industry is lobbying the Queensland Government to release more forest for logging. When the State Government privatised Forestry Plantations Queensland, there was a condition that hardwood plantations be established by 2025. Source: ABC Rural