Concerns around new forestry regulations

Both sides of the ongoing, bitter debate over Tasmanian forestry are concerned about planned changes to industry regulations.

Tasmanian forestry operations covered by Regional Forest Agreements will be subject to federal environmental regulations from July 2027.

However, both the timber industry and environmentalists are uncertain about the effects of the changes.

Tasmanian Forest Products Association CEO Nick Steel said there was uncertainty about what the changes would mean.

“We’re not looking for any special treatment or reduced accountability,” Mr Steel said.

“We just want a public guarantee that we’ll have the same sort of forestry industry as we do now and that forest businesses will not be worse off.”

Mr Steel said he did not know what impact it would have on the industry, given that the final draft of the regulations has not yet been released.

“As an industry, we don’t know what we don’t know.”

The Bob Brown Foundation believes the regulation changes will favour the forestry industry over environmental protection.

“We have no faith in these new negotiations with greenwashed promises of logging needing to meet national environmental standards,” campaign director Jenny Weber said.

“Special treatment is yet again being given to the native forest logging industry to have its own new bilateral agreement.

“No other industry across Australia is being given this ‘special consideration’.

“Native forest logging has been given a free pass by governments for 30 years under the Regional Forest Agreements that have provided logging licences in critically endangered species habitats nationwide,” Ms Weber said.

State Resources Minister, Felix Ellis welcomed th agreement between the Tasmanian and Federal Governments.

“For decades, the Regional Forest Agreement has provided the foundation for a strong and sustainable forestry industry in Tasmania, supporting regional jobs, investment and responsible forest management,” Mr Ellis said.

“It is important that accreditation of Tasmania’s Forest Practices System continues, providing strong environmental protections while avoiding unnecessary duplication and red tape.

“We will continue working closely with the Australian Government to secure a practical and durable accreditation pathway that gives industry certainty, protects investment and ensures a sustainable source of timber products critical to our economy and future housing needs.”

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said requirements would result in stronger environmental protections alongside greater certainty for industry.

“We believe in a strong and environmentally sustainable future for Tasmania’s forestry industry, and these reforms will see the sector meet the same environmental standards we apply to every other industry across Australia,” Mr Watt said.

“We will be working with the Tasmanian Government over the coming months to develop and then formalise the bilateral agreement, which will support the industry to operate in line with national environmental laws.

“Once signed, a new bilateral agreement will support landscape-scale approval of forestry operations in Tasmania.”

To support the transition, the Commonwealth has provided $8.5 million to the Tasmanian Government to align its forest management systems with new requirements under the national environment law.