Maroc - TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - Aujourd'hui 00:11

Tas state government committed to forestry despite EPBC laws

Tasmania’s Business, Industries and Resource Minister Felix Ellis says the State Government is committed to the forestry industry ahead of changes to federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) laws. Source: Timberbiz The reforms remove the long-standing exemption for Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs). Starting July 1, 2027, forestry operations will require full EPBC assessment and must comply with upcoming National Environmental Standards. The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) says the new Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) laws, negotiated between the Federal Government and the Australian Greens, will not achieve improved environmental outcomes in Australia’s native forests but instead undermine the future of Australia’s world-class and sustainable native forest industry. The Mercury in Hobart reports that the Tasmanian government is being urged by the Wilderness Society, the Greens and independent MPs to halt the signing of new long-term native forest logging contracts ahead of the changes to federal environment laws and what they claim is a looming shortage of native saw log supply. But The Mercury reports that the government remains steadfastly committed to the forestry industry with Mr Ellis saying that the Federal Government said, “these changes will not end the industry, including in meetings held in Canberra last week”. “The Wilderness Society are barking up the wrong tree again,” Mr Ellis said. “Unlike the Victorian Labor State government, which spent $1.5 billion of taxpayer money to shut down regional jobs, here in Tasmania, we back in the native forestry sector. “We want to deliver certainty, and so, of course, we’re looking to sign long-term contracts, so that businesses can invest in the future of their people and their plants. “The federal government has told us that its environmental laws won’t end native forestry,” Mr Ellis said. “They need to, of course, guarantee that no forestry businesses in Tasmania will be worse off, and we’ll be holding them to account. “But it’s time to deliver the certainty that our forestry businesses need; timber for the future, jobs for the future, and investment for the future.”