Forest Practices Authority could lose income from fines

The Tasmanian government is considering legislation that would direct all out-of-court fines collected by the Forest Practices Authority for unauthorised land clearing back into government coffers rather than to the authority.

Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis floated the option in response to a petition submitted to the Tasmanian Parliament by the Farmers and Landowners Action Group.

The petition attracted more than 3000 signatures and called for the government to overhaul the FPA and current land clearing regulations.

The FLAG movement began after William Farlie Fergusson pleaded guilty and was fined $100,000 for unauthorised tree clearing on his family’s Grindstone Bay farm near Triabunna.

This prompted Redbanks owner Lindsay White to form FLAG, which culminated in an estimated 1500 people rallying on Parliament Lawns in September to protest the FPA and current regulations.

On the same day, the petition was tabled in Parliament.

The government has committed to reassessing forest-practice regulations and conducting an independent review of the FPA.

The authority also announced it would commission an independent review into its investigation processes.

In his response to the petition, Mr Ellis said the government acknowledges that some members of the agricultural community have raised concerns about how the current compliance and enforcement framework operates.

“The Government will also consider requests for future FPA fine revenue to be paid into general consolidated revenue, rather than being retained by the FPA, as part of the 2027-28 Budget process,” he said.

“This will assist to ensure there is no perception of bias in relation to FPA enforcement activity.”

Under current processes, all court-issued fines go into the government's general consolidated revenue.

However, any fine revenue paid outside of court goes directly to the FPA.

In his response to the petition, Mr Ellis said the government had introduced legislative changes to strengthen non-forestry agricultural representation on the Forest Practices Advisory Council.

“The reviews provide an opportunity to consider whether current arrangements remain effective and continue to support an appropriate balance between environmental outcomes, agricultural production and regional economic activity.

“The review processes will include consultation with stakeholders to ensure a broad range of perspectives are considered when developing recommendations regarding Tasmania’s forest practices system.”

Mr White welcomed Mr Ellis’ response to the petition.

“There are some very concerning practices, processes and decisions within the FPA that farmers and landowners have brought to our attention, and we look forward to those matters being properly examined,” Mr White said.

“For some farmers and their families, the consequences of these processes have been heartbreaking.

“The stress, uncertainty, financial pressure and personal toll can continue for years, and that human impact must not be overlooked.

“This review is an important opportunity to shine a light on what has happened, understand where the system has gone wrong and, most importantly, make practical changes that restore confidence in the forest practices system.”

Mr White said he wanted the government-sanctioned independent review into the FPA to commence in the coming weeks.

“We look forward to seeing the review commence and to working constructively with the independent chair, the government and other stakeholders as the process moves forward.

“Our objective has always been a system that is fair, transparent, practical and workable for the farmers and landowners who are required to operate under it.”