Media Releases

15 August 2019 Victoria’s plantation forestry sector injects more than $600 million into the state’s economy each year, a figure the Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) says must be taken seriously by the State and Federal governments. VAFI CEO, Tim Johnston, said in 2017-18 Victoria continued to have Read more…

11 July 2019 The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) is deeply troubled by a report of alleged market research, believed to be partly funded by the State Government, which sought feedback from Victorians on the closure of the Victorian native timber industry by 2022. VAFI CEO, Tim Johnston, Read more…

26 June 2019 The Victorian native timber industry will be extremely disappointed if the State Government accepts the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC) recommendations to create an extensive suite of new national parks in Victoria’s west. The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) CEO, Tim Johnston said that the Read more…

16 May 2019 The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) has called for immediate action from the State Government after 11 days of protest action in a timber harvesting coupe in Mount Baw Baw, which has seen the livelihood of a small business owner suffer substantial financial loss in Read more…

6 May 2019 With the State Government moving back into the plantation sector it exited more than 20 years ago, forest industry experts are urging the government to consider utilising the experience and expertise of the private sector. The government recently announced it would plant 550 hectares of blue gum Read more…

30 April 2019 Following last week’s State Government announcement of the long-awaited Timber Release Plan (TRP), the Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) is calling on the Agriculture Minister, the Hon Jaclyn Symes MP, to be clear on the long-term future of the Victorian native forest sector. “The Victorian Read more…

18 April 2019 The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc (VAFI) is calling on the State Government to undertake immediate extended surveys following compelling new data which shows the Leadbeater’s Possum is more resilient than first thought. Download Media Release

18 April 2019 “Stop playing politics with lives” “Politics should play no part in the health and well-being of people’s livelihoods,” according to Victoria’s two peak bodies representing the tiber and forestry industry. Download Media Release

18 February 2019 The Victorian State Government’s inaction on securing the future of the Victorian native timber industry has industry workers facing an uncertain future. The Victorian Government is refusing to allow legitimate access by small Victorian businesses dependent on timber supply from state forests for their viability, through bureaucratic and administrative Read more…

4 December 2018 The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Inc. (VAFI) congratulates the Andrews Government’s newly appointed Agriculture Minister, Jaclyn Symes, MP. VAFI CEO, Tim Johnston, said he looks forward to working closely with Minister Symes on behalf of VAFI members given the industry’s economic and social importance to Victoria. Read more…