Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKenzie for her question and for her longstanding interest in all agriculture but particularly our amazing forests in Australia. I know Senator McKenzie knows firsthand, from growing up in a regional town in Victoria, how tremendously important our forestry sector is to our regional communities. And, Senator McKenzie, forests and trees are the ultimate renewable resource: they grow. Can I also acknowledge Senator Duniam as the assistant minister for forestry for his extraordinary work and passion in making sure that this industry continues to have the potential to grow to support the Australian economy and, most particularly, to support our regional communities, whether that be in Imbil or whether it be in Tumut. It might be in Portland; it might be in the south-east of the state, where I come from; or it might be in Bunbury, over in Western Australia. Our timber and forestry industries are an absolutely vital part of our economy and a vital part of our regional areas.

These timbers are sustainable. They're sustainably managed and they provide a massive amount of employment across Australia, particularly for people who are employed in the timber industry in regional areas. Fifty-two thousand Australians take home pay as a result of working directly in our timber industry. In Senator McKenzie's home state of Victoria, more than 15,000 people are directly employed in this particular industry, which is worth more than $23 billion a year to the Australian economy.

We acknowledged last year that the industry was heavily impacted by the season's bushfires, and this has obviously been compounded by the impact of COVID and recent export disruptions. That's why we have worked with the industry—and I acknowledge AFPA and the industry—to provide $65 million targeting support to the industry, going forward.