Senator the Hon Jonno Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Assistant Minister for Industry Development (Cth), Senator for Tasmania, and The Hon David Basham MP, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development (Tas), Media Release, 6 October 2021

Up to 60,000 tonnes of softwood logs will start to be shipped off Kangaroo Island to support South Australia’s forestry sector and booming housing construction industry, with applications to the Construction Softwood Transport Assistance Program (CSTAP) now open.

The CSTAP is jointly funded by the Morrison Coalition Government and Marshall Liberal Government and provides assistance to freight bushfire-affected softwood logs salvaged from Kangaroo Island to the South Australian mainland and then to sawmills with immediate capacity to process structural timber.

Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said timber made available thanks to the CSTAP could provide enough timber to build between 8,000 and 10,000 new houses across the country, supporting jobs in the timber and home building industries.

“Australia’s construction industry is booming and the Morrison Government is doing everything it can to help support the supply of structural timber,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.

“I am pleased we have been able to reach an agreement with the South Australian Government to start getting fire-damaged timber off of Kangaroo Island and into the market where it’s needed most.

“Without this assistance, salvageable logs might be burned or left to rot, putting jobs at risk and possibly releasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

“This funding will deliver a new supply of logs to support jobs in both our timber and construction industries and help boost economic growth across the country.”

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham the Marshall Liberal Government has pledged up to $3 million to support getting more timber to market.

“The booming local housing industry has been great news for our economy and South Australian jobs but the increased demand for timber has put real pressure on our supply chains,” Minster Basham said.

“This joint funding is a game changer for our forestry and housing construction industries and will make tens of thousands of tonnes of structural timber available which could build up to 2,000 homes in South Australia, boosting our economy and creating jobs across the state.

“The Marshall Liberal Government has been working closely with the Morrison Coalition Government to deliver a viable solution to getting this timber to market and this transport subsidy will maximise the amount of sawmill quality logs available to local processors.

“Unfortunately the former Labor Government privatised the south east and mid north forests, removing our flexibility to support the timber industry during times of supply shortage.”

The Construction Softwood Transport Assistance Program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments with the following assistance available:

• funding will be made available for transport of bushfire-affected softwood logs suitable and intended for processing into structural timber;
• a total of $30 per tonne assistance for transport from Kangaroo Island to the South Australian mainland;
• a total assistance of 10 cents per tonne per kilometre travelled by road from first port of landing to sawmill, commencing after the first 200 road kilometres travelled.

Related story: $15.1 million to address timber shortages with bushfire salvaged softwood