Commonwealth, state, and territory ministers with responsibility for forestry met virtually on Friday 12 July for their first Forestry Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) of 2024.
Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, chaired the meeting.
Three new members were welcomed:
- Tasmania, Hon Eric Abetz MP
- Northern Territory, the Hon Mark Monaghan MLA
- Australian Capital Territory, Ms Rebecca Vassarotti MLA (apology for this meeting and represented by senior official Bren Burkevics).
Their FMM predecessors were thanked for their contributions.
Ministers discussed the planning for the long term priorities for the forestry industry and the process for an update of the National Forest Policy Statement as well as work underway on a wood volume analysis and development of a Timber Fibre Strategy. The meeting agreed officials would collectively draft a paper to support initial public consultation on the process for reviewing the National Forest Policy Statement given broad community interest in its outcomes. Minister Watt noted the 2024-25 Federal Budget is providing $1.8 million to states and territories to support engagement in the review process and welcomed commitments to contribute to its progress. Ministers agreed to continue to progress this body of work out-of-session.
Ministers received an update on the Commonwealth’s nature positive reforms including the application of national environmental standards. Ministers noted that consultation on these reforms will commence in coming months.
Ministers noted reports on the delivery of FMM workplan items and support measures by jurisdictions aiming to encourage the forestry industry to respond to the challenges ahead of it, to increase production and respond to consumer need, particularly for the construction sector, and to respond to the impacts of climate change.
Ministers agreed to meet next in November 2024 to review progress against workplan items and industry engagement.
Ministerial attendees
- Australian Government (Chair): Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management
- New South Wales: Hon Tara Moriarty MLC, Minister for Agriculture; Minister for Regional New South Wales; and Minister for Western New South Wales
- Northern Territory: Hon Mark Monaghan MLA, Minister for Education; Minister for Mining; and Minister for Agribusiness and Fisheries
- Queensland: Hon Mark Furner MP, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries; and Minister for Rural Communities
- Tasmania: Hon Eric Abetz MP, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources; Minister for Transport
- Victoria: Hon Ros Spence, Minister for Agriculture; Minister for Community Sport; and Minister for Carers and Volunteers.
- Western Australia: Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC, Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Small Business.
Apologies
- Australian Capital Territory: Rebecca Vassarotti, MLA, Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management; Minister for Heritage; Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services; and Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction — represented by Bren Burkevics, Acting Deputy Director General, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
- South Australia: Hon Clare Scriven MLC, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development; and Minister for Forest Industries – represented by Lucas Jones, Senior Adviser Minister Scriven.