PRIVATE farm forestry is set to be expanded with the LNP promising a $6 million package for broad industry R&D and the establishment of a dedicated Farm Forestry Centre at Gympie.
LNP member for Gympie, Tony Perrett, said the investment was about putting Queensland on the map for sustainable, private farm forestry.
“Under the LNP, our forest and timber businesses and their thousands of employees will have a strong voice at the cabinet table – someone who understands and appreciates their contribution, and will stand up for their interests,” Mr Perrett said.
This is about putting Queensland on the map for sustainable, private farm forestry.
- Tony Perrett, LNP member for Gympie
“LNP sees a very bright future for our timber and forestry industries from expanding private forestry through harvesting, processing, value-adding and the emerging science of timber engineering – which is really putting sustainable, carbon-neutral into building and construction.
“This is about local and regional sustainable jobs in an industry that’s vital to centres from Caboolture to Gympie to Maryborough and Wide Bay Burnett, through to Mareeba and Cape York in the Far North, and Dalby and Injune in the south west and Theodore and Wandoan in Central Queensland.”
LNP agriculture spokesman Dale Last said in government, the LNP made common sense decisions on native hardwood and native softwood access.
“Labor dumped reference to ‘forestry’ in the portfolio title – hardly fair for a sector worth $3 billion a year to our economy and that underpins more than 25,000 direct and indirect jobs, particularly in Regional Queensland.”
Mr Last said the LNP would build on the Timber Industry Plan and provide $2 million to support extension of both the softwood and hardwood forestry sectors which are vital to our regions.
“The LNP will also invest up to $4 million for a Queensland Farm Forestry Centre to support increased private native (hardwood) forest production with tree planting for integrating with beef and livestock production.
“We will also return forestry to the department’s title to ensure industry had a strong voice.”