The tiny town of Augathella in outback Queensland may be a world away from Beijing, but it has become collateral damage in China's ongoing trade war with Australia.
Augathella local Rick Green is calling for China's new ambassador in Canberra, Xiao Qian, to visit his hometown and see the ripple effects for himself.
"What we need to do is get the governments talking again so we can get operational again."
In late 2020, China suspended Queensland timber imports after officials claimed there were detections of live insects in consignments.
Within a few months, Australian timber imports were largely suspended, hitting the industry worth $1.6 billion a year.
It is among a long list of sanctions on Australian products.
Mr Green said the market for his small-scale selective harvest furniture timber "just folded up overnight".
"We had a really, really successful business until the ban started and pretty much been downhill since then."
Holding out for a breakthrough
Mr Green and his wife, Nicole, had bet big to move their logging business from Mitchell to Augathella just over a year ago.
They purchased three homes in town and were optimistic their business would be a big boost for the local economy.
Now, they're trying to keep their heads afloat and their long-term staff on the books.
"We usually have at least 10 guys on our crew when things are going good, so we usually employ locals or people come from other areas into the town," Mr Green said.
"At the moment there's only three of us out here, so running a bit of a skeleton crew.
With no market for their high-end furniture timber in Australia, the Greens are holding out for a breakthrough.
"I'd like to see the new Chinese ambassador come to Augathella, take him out the bush and show him the timber that we've got here, because it all goes to China," Mr Green said.
Waiting for a response
Mr Xiao arrived in Australia earlier this year declaring he wanted to reset relations with Australia.
But tensions still simmer, most recently over China's security pact with the Solomon Islands and China's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
On the trade front, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has proposed measures to address Beijing's quarantine pest risk concerns but has yet to receive a response.
"I have written to my Chinese counterpart a number of times seeking the lifting of restrictions and suspensions on Australian primary industry products and businesses," Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said.
"It is disappointing that China has not lifted its suspension on the import of the Australian logs.
"I, the department and our agriculture counsellors in China will continue to press for the lifting of these restrictions."
The ABC contacted the Chinese Embassy in Canberra but did not receive a response.
Trying to keep the wheels spinning
Rick and Nicole Green are not holding any real hope of a consular visit, so they've opened a boutique and cafe in Augathella to diversify their income while the stalemate drags on.
"Things are very tight at the moment," Ms Green said.
Ms Green previously sold educational toys to childcare centres, but that business also took a beating during the pandemic.
"I decided to pack up all of our leftover stock that I had in the warehouse and bring it all to Augathella and rent this little shop to try and sell it out to the tourists and the grandparents coming through in the tourist season," she said.
"The locals are really excited, especially for the coffee."
