South Australia’s forest industries launch election platformThursday 5 Feb 2026
The release follows a milestone year marking 150 years since South Australia established the nation’s first commercial plantation forests – a legacy that continues to underpin regional communities and the State’s manufacturing strength. “South Australia is proudly the birthplace of Australia’s plantation forestry industry, and for 150 years regional South Australians have grown, harvested and manufactured timber that has helped build this State,” said SAFPA Chief Executive Nathan Paine. “The forest industries contribute nearly $3 billion to the State’s economy each year and directly and indirectly support more than 21,000 jobs,” he said. “South Australia produces 35 per cent of the nation’s housing timber, 25 per cent of particleboard and 60 per cent of agricultural posts, while supplying nearly half the fibre used for pallets that keep supply chains moving – all while sequestering more than 4.6 million tonnes of CO₂-e annually.” Mr Paine said the Policy Platform builds on SAFPA’s 2021 agenda and focuses on growing the plantation estate, strengthening local manufacturing and ensuring the forest industries continue to support the state’s housing supply, employment, economy, food supply chains and decarbonisation. “At the same time, our Building Timber Capacity at Home policy paper highlights an emerging structural challenge,” he said. “Surging imports and increasing substitution toward imported lightweight steel framing are placing sustained pressure on domestic manufacturing viability and plantation investment confidence. These are not cyclical trends and they require timely, practical policy responses aligned with government priorities for housing, regional development and economic resilience.” SAFPA has welcomed the leadership shown by the Premier and Ministers Boyer and Scriven through the use of locally manufactured mass timber in major projects such as the recently opened Tonsley and Mount Gambier Technical Colleges, and Mr Paine said building on this momentum through stronger procurement alignment would help ensure government investment continues to support South Australian manufacturing capability. “This is not about protectionism, it’s about ensuring South Australia retains the sovereign capability to grow, process and manufacture one of its most essential renewable materials,” he said. The policy paper shows timber’s share of detached housing construction in South Australia has declined from 85 per cent in 2018 to 74 per cent in 2025, while imports of engineered wood products have surged, placing downward pressure on local production and long-term investment. More >> Source & image credit: South Australia Forest Products Association | ||
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