The House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources has launched an inquiry into timber supply chain constraints in the Australian plantation sector.

Australia’s forest productions manufacturing sector is worth more than $23 billion each year and currently, Australian plantations are unable to fully meet the sector’s demand for timber, resulting in more than 900m³ being imported each year.

“More than 50,000 people are directly employed in the forestry sector in Australia, with the bulk of those working in wood product manufacturing,” chair of the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee Rick Wilson says.

“It is therefore critical for regional economies across Australia that the timber supply chain is operating effectively. The committee will be examining domestic softwood producers current and future demand for wood, the ability of the plantation sector to meet this demand, and any constraints in the supply chain reducing the plantation sector’s ability to meet demand.”

The committee is accepting submissions to the inquiry until Monday 17 August 2020.