A3P is the peak national organisation for Australia’s plantation products and paper industry with members employing more than 13,500 people in plantations, sawmills and paper manufacturing plants throughout Australia.

Meanwhile, the TIMA has effectively represented the interests of the forestry managed investment schemes (MIS) since its formation in 2000, and has led the industry in achieving a stable and supportive tax and regulatory environment for the forestry MIS sector.

Linda Sewell, Chairperson of the A3P says the merging of the industry bodies outlines a drive towards greater cohesion and harmony in industry representation, and facilitates the formulation and advocacy of single industry positions on a number of high priority industry-wide policy issues.

She says, “A3P was initially formed by bringing together the large plantation growers, the major plantation timber processors, and the pulp and paper sector, and recently the paper product stewardship organisation, Paper Round also combined with A3P.”

Sewell continues, “A3P will continue to seek more opportunities to streamline and strengthen the national representation of this diverse industry.”

Also commenting, Marcus Derham, president of the TIMA says the Association’s substantial achievements have resulted from its specialisation in tax and regulatory policy, which underpins MIS forestry investment and operations.

He says, “As the MIS sector matures and supplies increasing volumes of wood to the market, it is a natural progression that we should be further enhancing our links with other private and government plantation managers and with the wood and paper industry manufacturers.”

Derham also says, “TIMA’s substantial expertise in tax and corporate policy and regulation will be transferred into A3P, and the work will continue under the A3P banner.”

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