A Turning Point for Queensland Timber
Queensland’s timber industry, a sector employing thousands across regional communities, is set for its most comprehensive long-term strategy in decades. The Crisafulli Government has announced that consultation has now closed on the Queensland Future Timber Plan (QFTP), a draft 25-year framework aimed at delivering certainty of supply, creating jobs, and securing the role of timber in building the state’s future housing stock.
The plan, which will underpin the government’s pledge to secure enough locally sourced timber to build one million homes by 2044, represents a shift in policy direction after what the government has described as “a decade of decline” under Labor.
With over 370 Queenslanders from industry bodies and Indigenous representatives to conservation groups and individual landholders contributing to the consultation process, the plan is shaping up to be a cornerstone of the state’s Primary Industries Prosper 2050 blueprint, which seeks to lift the value of primary industries to $30 billion by 2030.
Certainty After a Period of Stagnation
The forestry sector in Queensland has faced significant uncertainty in recent years. Stakeholders have cited delayed policy, underfunded frameworks, and lack of clarity on long-term supply agreements.
Previous commitments, such as Labor’s proposed $200 million Sustainable Timber Industry Framework, never materialised in a meaningful way. As a result, mills, processors, and regional employers operated in an environment clouded by policy indecision.
Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett framed the new strategy as a decisive end to this uncertainty.
“The timber industry has a major role to play in Queensland’s growth and prosperity,” Minister Perrett said. “It is sustainable, renewable, and necessary if we are to build one million homes over the next two decades.”
What the Draft Plan Covers
The Queensland Future Timber Plan sets out a 25-year vision supported by a detailed five-year action plan, designed to begin rolling out from late October 2025.
Key objectives include:
- Securing long-term supply: Ensuring enough hardwood and softwood to meet housing targets.
- Supporting sustainable forestry: Protecting renewable resources while balancing environmental considerations.
- Driving advanced manufacturing: Expanding value-added timber products and strengthening regional supply chains.
- Creating jobs: Sustaining and growing employment in regional Queensland communities.
- Backing regional economies: Building resilience by keeping production local and reducing reliance on imports.
The government says the plan is designed to provide not only certainty for the industry but also confidence for builders, developers, and the broader construction sector.
Consultation and Community Involvement
A notable feature of the QFTP process has been the breadth of engagement. Over 370 responses were collected during a 28-day public consultation period, involving:
- Industry associations and processors
- Conservation and environmental groups
- Indigenous stakeholders
- Landowners
- Individual businesses and citizens
According to the Department of Primary Industries, all feedback will be considered before the release of the final plan and its supporting action roadmap. This approach, officials say, reflects the government’s commitment to balancing growth with environmental and social responsibility.
Timber’s Role in Housing Supply
Queensland’s housing market continues to face acute pressures from population growth, affordability challenges, and supply shortages. The government has tied the QFTP directly to its housing ambitions ensuring that timber remains a central, renewable material in construction.
By locking in long-term supply arrangements, the plan aims to reduce reliance on imported timber, which has been subject to cost fluctuations and environmental scrutiny. The government argues that investing in locally sourced, renewable timber not only secures housing supply but also creates a sustainable model for future growth.
Links to Broader Economic Strategy
The Future Timber Plan is not a standalone initiative. It forms part of the Primary Industries Prosper 2050 blueprint, a strategy designed to increase Queensland’s overall primary production output to $30 billion by 2030.
By embedding timber into this framework, the government positions forestry as a critical driver of both housing delivery and regional economic resilience. Advanced manufacturing and value-adding are also prominent themes, with potential to lift margins and innovation in downstream timber products.
Industry and Environmental Perspectives
Reactions from the timber industry have been cautiously optimistic. Stakeholders have long called for a clear roadmap to secure supply, noting that investment decisions for mills and processing facilities require decades-long certainty.
Environmental groups, meanwhile, have flagged the need to balance economic and housing goals with biodiversity and conservation commitments. The consultation process has drawn submissions from across the spectrum, underscoring the importance of ongoing dialogue.
Indigenous voices have also been part of the consultation, with recognition of cultural and land management perspectives increasingly important in shaping sustainable forestry policy.
What Happens Next
The consultation phase has now concluded, with the final Queensland Future Timber Plan and five-year action roadmap due to be released in late October 2025.
Once published, the government will begin implementation of early-stage initiatives, likely including supply agreements, infrastructure planning, and industry development measures. Stakeholders across the sector will be watching closely to see how the plan translates from framework to delivery.
TGB Take
For builders, developers, and suppliers, the Queensland Future Timber Plan signals a clear intention to lock in certainty of material supply at a time when housing targets are ambitious and industry pressures remain high.
If delivered effectively, the plan could reshape the state’s housing supply chain, giving builders greater confidence in long-term procurement and allowing for innovation in timber-based construction.
At the same time, the balancing act between sustainability, industry growth, and environmental responsibility will remain a central test.
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