6 July 2026
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) is pleased to welcome Timber Queensland as its newest peak body member.
Timber Queensland is the peak forest and timber industry body in Queensland with a unique and diverse membership base consisting of businesses from growers, harvesters, sawmillers, treaters and merchants through to timber users including manufacturers, architects and builders.
QFF CEO Jo Sheppard said QFF welcomed the opportunity to work alongside a critical industry which is deeply embedded in regional communities, and which contributes significantly to the Queensland economy.
“As an industry with a well-established local manufacturing base, timber contributes almost $4 billion to the state economy and supports around 23,000 jobs, 70 percent of which are regionally based,” Ms Sheppard said.
“We also know that the forest and timber industry faces many of the same challenges as the broader agricultural sector – including biosecurity, secure access to productive land, awareness and attraction for a workforce with diverse skilling requirements, and managing rising input costs, including fuel.
“There are also significant opportunities for this industry – growing demand both domestically and globally for timber as a construction material, carbon markets, bioenergy and other opportunities to add value to waste streams, and the State Government’s 25-year Queensland Future Timber Plan.
“It will be fantastic to have Timber Queensland at the table as part of the QFF peak body membership and QFF looks forward to working alongside Timber Queensland to proactively navigate these challenges and opportunities to position the industry and its supply chain for a profitable, productive and sustainable future.
“QFF is a great vehicle that enables agricultural peak bodies to come together and work collaboratively on policy and cutting-edge projects. It is so important – we cannot do it alone and we are stronger together.”
Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said it is important to acknowledge that forestry and wood products are an integral part of the food and fibre supply chain, making it logical to work collaboratively with other peak agricultural industry bodies through QFF.
“Many of the issues and opportunities for the timber industry are the same as for broader agriculture, such as workforce development and training, regulation, market access and resource security,” Mr Stephens said.
“In particular, we are excited by the opportunities for better integration of forest assets and wood production trees with farming as additional sources of income through timber, carbon and related natural capital markets. The Queensland Government has also set an ambitious goal of revitalising and growing the timber industry as part of the Queensland Future Timber Plan, including through plantation expansion and related agroforestry activities.
“Forestry and downstream processing can provide a broad range of on-farm benefits such as shade and shelter for livestock, improved soil and water quality and business resilience as well as much needed timber to build our growing demand for homes and public infrastructure.
“We look forward to working with the QFF and other member bodies to promote a strong and prosperous future, through well-targeted policy advocacy and industry development in Queensland”.
Timber Queensland joins QFF’s membership which consists of 20 state and national peak agricultural industry organisations who collectively represent more than 13,000 primary producers across Queensland.
Media contact:
Jak Kirwin
General Manager, Marketing and Communications, QFF
E: comms@qff.org.au
M: 0488 305 106