Tim Johnston VAFI
The newly formed Victorian Forest Products Association will replace the Victorian Association of Forest Industries possibly within six months. The VFPA announced its 23 foundation members and elected its Interim Governing Council in early September. The new Association will span Victoria’s forest industry value chain including plantations, native forestry operators, sawmills and pulp and paper making. Source: Timberbiz
“VFPA will replace VAFI but there will be a transition,” the interim chairman of the VFPI Tony Price said.
It was unknown how long that would take, but Mr Price indicated it would take three to six months.
“There will be a transition away from VAFI and the VFPA will be the industry body in Victoria.”
An interim steering committee has been formed to manage the process.
“There was a need to get greater alignment between our Federal lobbying and our State lobbying activities,” Mr Price said.
“There is an acknowledgement that the plantation guys will have some issues and the native guys will have issues.
“The idea is to bring back a more cohesive timber industry.
He described the recent creation of the Victorian Hardwood Sawmillers Association as being “unhelpful”.
“So, what we want to do is bring the whole industry back together under the VFPA banner.”
The new body will be administered through the Australian Forests Products Association, but there will be a delegation to Victoria and Tasmania to ensure State teams manage the State related issues with a higher level of co-ordination to ensure everyone is on the same page.
“VAFI is still there but there have been some parties who have chosen not to continue with VAFI and gone off and done their own thing.
“But that has not been helpful,” Mr Price said.
“The idea is to try to welcome them back into the tent under a new structure that is aligned with AFPA.”
The eight members of the Interim Governing Council are:
- Sarah Harvie: Opal Group
- Rob Hescock: Hancock Victorian Plantations
- Paul Heubner: Allied Natural Wood Exports
- Mike Lawson: SFM Environmental Solutions
- Phil Mason: New Forests
- Darren Sheldon: Australian Bluegum Plantations
- Tony Price: Midway Limited
- Owen Trumper: AKD Softwoods
The CEO of VAFI Tim Johnston said VAFI had been the voice of the industry for many years, “like the Victorian Sawmillers Association before it, and the Hardwood Millers Association of Victoria, before that”.
“This new peak body is being formed on the strong foundation laid by VAFI through the contribution of its members,” he said.
“In the short-term, VAFI operations will remain the same.
“VAFI will continue to operate in parallel until the VFPA is up and running to make sure there are no gaps in industry advocacy and representation.”
VAFI would continue to keep members updated on new developments.
AFPA CEO Ross Hampton said forest industries employed thousands of men and women in Victoria.
“At a time when so many jobs are being lost, our industries can play a big role in Victoria’s post pandemic economic recovery if they are enabled to,” he said.
“This new body will turbo-charge representation for all our industries and help make the case to policy makers that now more than ever our sustainable, renewable forest industries should be backed to deliver vital growth and prosperity.”
The Chair of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries inc Craig Dunn said this new peak body was being formed on the strong foundation laid by VAFI through the perseverance of its members.
“We are entering a new era for the Victorian forest products industry,” he said. “VAFI has been the voice of the industry for many years.
“The VFPA will bring a new approach and broader industry representation during these challenging times. VAFI will continue to operate in parallel until the VFPA is up and running to ensure a seamless transition,” Mr Dunn said.
