Recent comments by Minister for Small Business and Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin, have drawn sharp criticism from Timber NSW Chief Executive Maree McCaskill.
In her weekly column, Minister Saffin highlighted the establishment of the Great Koala National Park, stating it will protect more than 12,000 koalas and over 100 threatened species. She also emphasised the creation of 100 jobs linked to the park.
However, Timber NSW disputes these claims, pointing to CSIRO monitoring that recorded more than 95,000 koalas in northern Australia in 2024. McCaskill argues that many of the forest areas referenced have been protected for decades and says the new park has already caused significant disruption to forestry jobs and local communities.
Concerns have also been raised about the support package for affected workers. According to Timber NSW, the NSW Government’s proposed transition funding is only a fraction of that provided in other states, and many businesses and contractors have yet to see any compensation.
The debate underscores the tension between environmental protection initiatives and the sustainability of regional forestry jobs, with industry groups calling for greater transparency and meaningful consultation on the future of the sector.