Lawyers for Forests has serious concerns about Federal and State government’s current native forest policies and management practices. Some of these concerns relate to the failure of existing laws to adequately protect biodiversity and ecological values and the public’s limited ability to demand a review of government decisions and enforce laws where they do exist.
Lawyers for Forests believes that the laws applicable to the native forest sector are deficient and inadequate. We also have concerns about the inadequacy of the scientific basis on which conservation decisions are made, the flawed economics underpinning the logging industry, and the influence exercised by wood chipping companies and unions over government decision making processes.
Lawyers for Forests is working to promote better native forest law and policy. This involves analysis of the laws and regulatory framework and advocating for law reform to ensure the conservation and better management of our native forests.
Some of the specific policies and practices of concern include:
- In several states commercial native forest logging continues, even in forests slated for National Parks.
- The practice in many states of widespread planned burning which reduces biodiversity, drives climate change and in many instances does not effectively reduce bushfire risk.
- In Victoria, despite a decision by the Victorian Labor government to end native forest logging from 1 January 2024, there are still significant threats to our native forests, such as those listed below.
- So called ‘salvage logging’ is being conducted in state forests and some National Parks which involves heavy machinery and extensive vegetation removal following storms.
- Extensive clearing of forest, including old growth forests and high conservation value ecosystems, for unnecessary fire breaks and access roads, in state forests and National Parks.
- Court findings of repeated breaches of environmental laws by state logging agencies. Click the ‘Articles and cases’ link below for more information.
- Tasmanian native timber being felled and shipped to Victoria to be processed in Victorian mills.
- Management of forests without proper regard to protecting threatened species.
As stated above state logging agencies are renowned for failing to adhere to codes of practice and environmental protection laws.
“If they were a bikie group they would be a criminal organisation. Anyone with that number of convictions the vernacular is to call them a criminal organisation.”
“They aren’t offences involving failing to cross a t or dot an i. They are offences involving illegal logging of state forest without appropriate levels of environmental protection. It’s completely unprecedented.”
“Whether or not you declare them a criminal organisation, they’re clearly not fit for purpose to manage our forests. They should be disbanded.”