Timber Trade Industrial Association

CHANGE FOR SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYERS 

Most national system employees have a formal workplace right to disconnect under the Fair Work Act 2009. From 26 August 2025, the right to disconnect will also apply to employees of small businesses.

The right to disconnect

Outside their working hours, employees can refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact or attempted contact from:

  • their employer, or
  • another person if the contact or attempted contact is work-related (for example, work-related contact from clients or members of the public)

unless the employee’s refusal is unreasonable.

When will an employee’s refusal be unreasonable

An employee’s refusal to monitor, read or respond to contact or attempted contact will be unreasonable if the contact or attempted contact is required by law.

If the contact or attempted contact is not required by law, certain matters must be considered when deciding whether the employee’s refusal is unreasonable. These include:

  • the reason for the contact (or attempted contact)
  • how the contact (or attempted contact) is made and how much disruption it causes the employee
  • any compensation (monetary or non- monetary) the employee receives
      • to be available to work when the contact (or attempted contact) is made, or
      • to work outside their ordinary hours
  • the employee’s role and their level of responsibility, and
  • the employee’s personal circumstances, including family or caring responsibilities.

Other matters can also be considered.

Who does the right to disconnect apply to

The right to disconnect applies to national system employees.

Small business employers and their employees

If an employer was a small business employer on 26 August 2024, the right to disconnect will not apply to its employees until 26 August 2025.

Right to disconnect terms in modern awards and enterprise agreements

A right to disconnect term has been added to all 155 modern awards.

Enterprise agreements may contain a different right to disconnect term. Enterprise agreement terms that are more favourable to employees than the right in the Fair Work Act will continue to apply.

TTIA will deal with these issues in upcoming IR Briefings which will be held in various states in October/November. Dates and venues can be accessed by contacting the Association on (02) 9264 0011 or by email: ttia@ttia.asn.au

Fair work information statements

Employers are reminded that updated Fair Work Information Statements (FWIS) are available for full time and casual employment.

The FWIS document for permanent employees must be given to new employees when they first start work.

The Casual Employee Information Statement (CEIS) needs to be given to new casual employees before they start employment, or as soon as possible after. The CEIS also needs to be provided to all casual employees again after:

  • 12 months of employment for casual employees of small businesses
  • 6 months of employment, 12 months of employment, and every subsequent period of 12 months of employment for casual employees of non-small businesses.

There is also a Fixed Term Contract Information Statement which must also be given to new fixed term employees when they start work.

TTIA has of all these documents available for TTIA Members. Phone (02) 9264 0011 or email ttia@ttia.asn.au if you require a copy.

 

Tasmanian Forest Products Association

WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR FORESTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE

As another fire season approaches, Tasmanians are once again reminded of the importance of planning, preparation and partnership. Forecasts indicate a summer of higher-than-average temperatures and an increased risk of dry lightning storms. For those of us who live and work in the state’s forests, these are not just statistics. They are a call to action.

The forestry industry has always recognised the risk that bushfires pose to our environment, regional communities, and economy. We are custodians of working forests that underpin a $1.2 billion sector and sustain more than 5,000 jobs. Our businesses depend on keeping these forests healthy and productive. That reality drives an unshakable commitment to fire prevention, rapid response and recovery.

Forestry’s strength lies in active management. From reducing vegetation to maintaining access tracks, the way we grow and harvest timber lowers fuel loads and makes firefighting easier.

It also means our people and machinery are already in the forest when danger strikes. In fact, our private forest companies control some of the largest coordinated firefighting crews in Tasmania. When fires threaten, we can act immediately – cutting firebreaks, containing flare-ups and supporting emergency services.

Communication is the lifeline in any fire emergency. Last year we highlighted the potential of the Tasmanian Government Radio Network (TasGRN) to transform the state’s firefighting capability. This secure digital system enables agencies to share information in real time, improving coordination and safety on the ground. Access to TasGRN for private forestry crews is not a nice-to- have; it is a practical necessity.

That is why the recent letter from Premier Jeremy Rockliff during the 2025 State Election campaign is so important. In it, the Premier confirmed that a “re-elected Liberal Government will facilitate access to TasGRN for private forestry estate owners during the annual summer fire season and will work with the Commonwealth and industry to explore longer-term options to provide greater certainty.

The Premier also said: “We will also work with the industry to deliver a joint work plan to expand fire detection infrastructure across land tenures.

These commitments are encouraging. They recognise that forestry is not only an economic engine but also a critical partner in protecting communities from bushfire. They also acknowledge that modern firefighting demands whole-of-landscape thinking. Fire does not respect boundaries; neither should our response.

The stakes could not be higher. The devastating mainland fires of 2019–20 showed how quickly conditions can escalate and how vital it is to have skilled crews with the right equipment and communications on the front line. Tasmanian foresters played a major role in those efforts, bringing heavy machinery, on-ground knowledge and rapid response capabilities that saved property and lives.

This summer will test all of us again. Our industry is prepared – with trained personnel, specialised equipment and a culture of prevention. But we need the tools and coordination that only government can provide. Expanding TasGRN access and rolling out new detection technology will help ensure that when the next fire ignites, we can respond as one.

Forestry is ready. The next step is to lock in the agreements that will keep our forests, and the communities around them, safe.

 

National Timber and Hardware Association

URGENT ACTION NEEDED AS APPRENTICESHIPS DWINDLE

NTHA has welcomed HIA’s recent call to tackle the steady decline in apprenticeship numbers across the timber and building industry.

It is an issue NTHA feels deeply connected to. As the skills gap widens, this could seriously impact Australia’s ability to meet its housing and infrastructure goals. Recent data from the National Centre for Vocational Education and Training (NCVER) says it all: apprenticeship commencements are falling, withdrawals are rising, and without urgent, coordinated action, the situation will only worsen.

Every day NTHA works closely with apprentices, trainees, host employers and training providers across the timber and hardware supply chain. While we understand there are challenges, we also know what works when it comes to industry training.

Through our Group Training Organisation (GTO), we have built a model that is proven to deliver real results:

  • Apprentices and trainees receive paid, hands-on experience from day one, 
  • Businesses get the support and guidance they need to train and retain, and 
  • Everyone benefits from structured learning, mentoring, and genuine industry engagement. 

Small to medium-sized hardware businesses want to invest in the next generation, but they need help. With some employer incentives set to expire, many will be forced to pull back from employing trainees and apprentices.

The pressure is on for employers to take advantage of these incentives now while they are still available. Continued support is crucial if we want to keep building a pipeline of skilled workers.

The truth is, Australia cannot meet its housing and infrastructure targets without a strong, well-supported workforce. And that workforce starts with meaningful training opportunities and clear pathways into the industry.

As the voice of the timber and hardware sector, NTHA is ready to work with government, educators, and industry leaders to create a practical, forward-looking strategy that:

  • Champions vocational education, 
  • Supports both apprentices and employers, and
  • Delivers the skilled workforce our country needs not just for now, but well into the future.

 

 

EWPAA

TIMBER FRAMING: THE ULTIMATE RENEWABLE TM CAMPAIGN

They often say what is on the inside is more important than what is on the outside, and this is especially true for timber frames in your home. Sadly, many new homeowners do not know what is behind their walls holding up their house, and the many benefits that naturally come from building with a timber frame.

Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) though WoodSolutions is making sure that consumers, builders, and the market get to know the many benefits of timber frame construction through an ongoing campaign ‘Timber Framing – the leading choice for building Australian homes, and our future’ – see www.woodsolutions.com.au/timber- framing. With around 80% of Australian homes being built with timber framing. It’s one of our oldest resources. It’s safe, reliable, cost-effective, and well understood by designers, builders, and consumers.

Well-known benefits of building with timber framing include:

  • It’s renewable and sustainable. In Australia, we replant over 70 million seedlings every year and our softwood plantations grow the amount of timber framing needed for an average home every two and a half minutes.
  • It has low embodied energy and stores carbon, especially compared with other alternative building products (e.g., steel and concrete). New technologies and innovations are increasing yields from each log, decreasing waste, and reducing energy use further, to make it an even more obvious environmental choice. Also, about half the dry weight of timber framing is carbon, which is locked up from the atmosphere and stored for the life of the timber product.
  • Timber is a natural insulator and a strong, durable and quiet building system. With good design, timber framed buildings can better regulate their internal temperature and reduce household energy use when it comes to heating and cooling.
  • Most timber frames are now treated to further protect your home from termite incursions.
  • Good design creates strong, durable and fire-resistant construction. Timber frames are predictable, resilient, and maintain structural integrity during serious fire events instead of buckling.

The timber framing campaign has a wealth of factsheets, brochures, and social media assets that we can all use to promote the many benefits of building with timber framing – let’s help get the message out. With all levels of government looking at ways to achieve their ambitious new housing and emissions reduction policy targets in the built environment – it seems obvious to look to timber framing as a big part of the solution. It’s truly The Ultimate RenewableTM.

As always, ensuring timber building product compliance is essential. A reputable product certification mark is a great way to have confidence that the manufacturing facility, the timber building product, and associated claims have been inspected, audited, tested, and reviewed against the product standards by independent experts. EWPAA has you covered! See www.ewp.asn.au.