Event:                 The Hon Bob Debus: A pathway out of native forest logging

Where:               Hobart Town Hall, 50 Macquarie Street Hobart

When:                 1pm, Tuesday 14 November 2023

Hundreds have registered to join former NSW Environment Minister the Hon Bob Debus AM in conversation with the Australia Institute spokesperson for Native Forests and the Director and Principal Lawyer at Bleyer Lawyers Vanessa Bleyer, at this special event to talk about a pathway out of native forest logging in Tasmania.

The end of native forest logging is occurring throughout the world.  Here in Australia, Western Australia and Victoria have committed to putting an end to their native forest industries and Tasmania should be on the same path.

But Tasmania continues to delay the inevitable end to an industry that is a relatively small employer, subsidised by the taxpayer, and one that causes climate change and habitat loss.

With jobs in decline – 2021 Census figures show that jobs in forestry and logging (both plantation and native forestry) and jobs across wood product and paper manufacturing industries, together represent just under 1% of all Tasmanian jobs – now is the time.

So, what would happen to existing native forests if Tasmania does stop logging?

“Tasmania’s native forests should be transitioned into national parks which would take them off logging schedules permanently and help bolster biodiversity,” Vanessa Bleyer said.

“Research shows that the move away from logging our remaining native forests should not involve market mechanisms like carbon credits.

“Using one market mechanism to try to allay the failings of another is economically foolish.

“Carbon credits are a political, economic and environmental disaster as detailed in a report just released by the Australia Institute ‘No Credit Required: four examples of successful forestry transitions without market mechanisms’ authored by Andrew Bakoyni.” Ms Bleyer concluded.

Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 13 November 2023

Bob Brown Foundation welcomes today’s pledge by Federal MP Sophie Scamps to end native forest logging

Bob Brown Foundation welcomes today’s pledge by Federal MP Sophie Scamps to end native forest logging – urges Prime Minister Albanese to protect native forests nationwide.

“Ending native forest logging nationwide will be as popular as Malcolm Fraser ending whaling in 1978 with huge public support. Prime Minister Albanese could stop the needless massacre of Australia’s forests and their wildlife.”

“We welcome this pledge with its breadth of signatories. It sends a clear message to governments and industry that wildlife, the environment, and our climate have suffered enough from the logging and burning of native forests. After decades of stripping Australia’s rich forests back to bare earth, sending wildlife to the brink of extinction and contributing to global heating, the remaining forests need rescuing immediately,” Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation Campaigns Manager said.

“Protection and restoration of native forests can help repair the broken climate and reverse wildlife extinctions. For koalas, swift parrots, greater gliders, quolls and owls, secure native forest protection is overdue,” Jenny Weber said.

“An immediate end to native forest logging and the use of 100% plantations for our wood needs must include more effective domestic processing of Australia’s existing plantation estate for both domestic and international markets,” Scott Jordan, Bob Brown Foundation Campaigner said.

“There are significant issues with historic plantation management and practices that must be avoided. Poorly located and mismanaged plantations have led to weed proliferation, soil erosion, damaging impacts on water tables, and increased fire risks affecting communities and ecosystems. The loss of productive farmland associated with the ill-fated and ill-conceived Managed Investment Schemes are fresh in the minds of many and highlight the risks in plantation expansion incentives,” Scott Jordan said.

“Australia’s plantation estate needs reconfiguring rather than expanding, ending reliance on mass low-value woodchip exports, often to be burnt in high-carbon emitting electricity furnaces. Investment in higher value processing of plantation products, replacing imported timber products, presents the best path forward for the plantation sector,” Scott Jordan said.