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Federal Law Changes Trigger Forestry Conflict in Tasmania
Following the Federal Government’s amended environmental law reforms and their impact on Tasmania’s forestry sector there have been immediate and varied political and environmental reactions expressed.
These media releases reveal a sharp political division – the Liberal Government attacks the reforms as a “sell out” of jobs, Labor attempts to balance its support for “sustainable forestry” with criticism of the Premier’s “hypocrisy” and the Greens and environmental groups celebrate the removal of the Regional Forest Agreements (RFA) exemption as a major step towards forest protection. The collection captures the intense, multi-party controversy and the conflicting pressures on the state’s natural resources and regional economies, whilst the Environmental Defenders Office sees both wins and concerns.
Media Release – Environmental Defenders Office, 28 November 2025
Historic law reforms provide foundation we can work with for nature
The EPBC Act reforms passed by the ALP and Greens contain several very significant improvements and constitute a strong foundation upon which to build, according to the Environmental Defenders Office.
“The changes ushered through the parliament today are the most significant enhancements in federal environmental protections in more than a generation,” EDO Deputy Director Rachel Walmsley said.
“These are reforms that EDO, the conservation movement and the wider Australian community has been calling for over many years. They are a strong foundation upon which to build.
“Removing the exemption from the EPBC Act for high-risk land clearing and the Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) so they comply with the same rules and standards as other industries is very positive and long overdue.
“The success of these reforms will very much depend on the development of strong, effective standards and regulations, and proper resourcing of the new EPA to ensure their robust enforcement.
“The Bills originally presented to the parliament have been significantly improved at the behest of the Greens, who have, among other things, convinced the government to broaden the application of the EPBC Act to include forestry and land clearing.
“EDO will continue to engage constructively in the public consultation on the standards and regulations to help ensure the best outcomes for nature and communities.”
Walmsley said the failure of the government to include climate impacts in the reforms was a significant shortcoming that must be addressed sooner than later.
The EDO Law Reform Team has analysed the legislation approved by the parliament, highlighting the gains made during the final stages of the negotiations. [1]
The negotiation wins
- Setting an end date to the exemption from Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) from the EPBC Act
- Tightening land clearing loopholes for the Great Barrier Reef catchment and regrowth vegetation
- Water trigger prevented from being devolved to state and territory government
- Some safeguards around devolution of EPBC Act powers
- Exclusion of fossil fuels from streamlined assessment, national interest approval exemptions and bioregional planning pathways
- Less discretion when applying National Environmental Standards
- Offsets via “pay to destroy” restoration fund not possible for specified threatened species
- Review of the EPBC Act now every five years
The concerns
- Unacceptable impacts test subject to higher bar
- Climate impact assessment remains the same
- Stop-work environmental protection order powers curtailed
- While the new National Environmental Protection Agency has finally been introduced, its independence needs strengthening
REFERENCES
[1] Historic environment reforms: What happened in parliament and what comes next? EDO, 28 November 2025.
Media release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, 28 November 2025
Willie goes weak over forestry
The Opposition Leader’s failure to stand up for Tasmanian forestry workers will forever be a stain on his so-called leadership.
Labor’s new leader is ducking for cover after the Federal Labor-Green deal to end the native forest industry by stealth.
On a day where Labor traded away forestry jobs with the Greens, Josh Willie refused to front the media as reported by 7News Tasmania.
Our Liberal Government is standing up for our forestry industry, the Tasmanians it employs and the products it produces.
Media release – Shane Broad MP, Shadow Minister for Resources, 28 November 2025
Rockliff says one thing in private, another in public
Revelations that the Prime Minister and Murray Watt have been in regular contact with Jeremy Rockliff this week to discuss their new environmental laws completely expose the Premier’s latest political theatre.
Jeremy Rockliff has spent the week privately engaging with the Prime Minister while publicly attacking him for the very same discussions.
The Premier’s scare campaign isn’t just misleading, it’s hypocritical and designed to whip up division rather than deal honestly with Tasmanians.
You can’t talk constructively behind closed doors and then run to the cameras pretending you’re in the dark.
And Felix Ellis’ comments are even more astonishing.
For Felix Ellis to accuse anyone of doing a deal with the Greens is nothing short of farcical.
This is the same bloke who cut his own deal with the Greens earlier this year by dumping his own forestry policy, on top of selling out the greyhound racing and salmon industries, and now he’s out there peddling outrage to try and distract from it.
The hypocrisy is obvious, and Tasmanians can see it a mile away.
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, and Felix Ellis, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, 27 November 2025
Labor-Green deal puts forestry on chopping block
The Tasmanian Government is deeply concerned Labor has rushed to sell out Tasmania’s world-class native forestry industry and the thousands of jobs it supports.
Changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) that make it easier to get renewable energy projects off the ground and simplify processes for industries like mining is welcome, however these changes should not come at the expense of regional forestry jobs in Tasmania.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said there is a breathtaking lack of detail on the deal Labor has done with the Greens.
“I am deeply concerned this Labor-Green deal on EPBC Act changes has come at the expense of native forestry in Tasmania and regional jobs,” Rockliff said.
“We back this sustainable industry, the Tasmanians it employs and the products it produces.
“This Labor-Green deal will put jobs in regional Tasmania at great risk. It is these jobs and these Tasmanians we are standing up for.
“Notwithstanding the incredible lack of detail, the so-called support package is woefully inadequate to compensate for the direct and broader flow-on economic effects of this decision.”
Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Felix Ellis, said Tasmanians remain in the dark about Labor’s cloak-and-dagger deal with the Greens on forestry.
“Thousands of Tasmanians work in the forestry industry, and it appears the Prime Minister has sold out our state and those workers to appease the Greens,” Ellis said.
“Tasmanians don’t need Canberra trying to run roughshod over our State, our industries and our people.”
Media release – Shane Broad MP, Shadow Minister for Resources, 27 November 2025
Tasmanian Labor backs sustainable forestry and Tasmanian jobs
Tasmanian Labor supports our sustainable forest industry and the thousands of Tasmanians who rely on it.
It provides real jobs for Tasmanian families, strengthens our regional communities, and creates downstream processing opportunities across our economy.
National reforms must provide clarity for industry, not additional red tape, continual legal challenges, or uncertainty.
Our priority is making sure Tasmanian families are not caught up in decisions made far from the communities they affect.
We acknowledge the reforms progressing in Canberra, but our focus is on protecting Tasmanian jobs and maintaining a sustainable forest industry here at home.
What the sector needs now is certainty, not confusion.
We will closely assess the reforms and work to ensure Canberra’s decisions don’t place Tasmanian workers or businesses in limbo.
Tasmania has a sustainable forest industry, and we will always stand up for the people and communities who depend on it.
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 27 November 2025
Federal Environment Law Changes Welcome
The decision in Canberra today will have a big impact on Lutruwita / Tasmania’s forests.
While Labor’s legislation isn’t perfect, the Greens-negotiated changes to the federal environment laws undo the Howard Government’s exemption for forestry.
This is a big step forward for native forest protection on this island.
This is a direct result of decades of tireless campaigning of conservationists and an increasing community distaste for native forest logging.
The southern forests and Eastern Tiers are important habitat for the critically endangered swift parrot.
The Central Highlands are home to Tasmanian devils, masked owls and wedge-tailed eagles – all listed species under federal legislation.
The Liberals’ extreme reaction to the announcement from Canberra makes it clear just how worried they are about what it means for their pro-logging agenda.
Like many conservationists and nature lovers, we’re deeply concerned the Liberals will be cheering on a smash and grab in the forests in the next 18 months.
We saw it in NSW before they declared the Great Koala National Park, it can’t happen in Tasmania with the swift parrot’s habitat.
Bringing forests back into basic environmental protection is a step towards saving the swift parrot.
Much of that legal protection, however, won’t come into play for another year and a half – we can’t let the Liberals log it to extinction in that time.
Minister Felix Ellis’ unrestrained rants about federal law changes today will not give anyone any comfort.
The Greens will continue to do everything we can to end native forest logging and, of course, protect the swift parrot.
Media release – Andrew Wilkie, Independent MHR for Clark, 27 November 2025
A STATEMENT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL REFORMS
I welcome the changes to the Federal Government’s environmental law reforms.
I voted against the reforms in the House of Representatives because, as initially drafted, it was clear the Government had forgotten they were supposed to actually stop environmental destruction.
While the amended package is still far from perfect, there is now at least some greater protection for the environment and, of particular importance for Tasmania, for forests specifically.
Andrew Wilkie has long campaigned for the removal of the exemption in the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act for Regional Forest Agreements, as there was never a good excuse for forestry not to meet the same standards as elsewhere.
Ruling out expedited approvals for fossil fuel projects is also a welcome step forward.
Of course, Wilkie would much prefer the reforms included a genuinely independent Environmental Protection Authority, a proper recognition of climate impacts in the assessment and approval process, and better consultation and engagement standards for First Nations peoples and local communities.
Laws, of course, should not remain stagnant. They should be continually reviewed and improved.
So Wilkie will keep advocating for improvements to ensure our national environmental laws consider climate impacts, provide strong protection for the environment and strong protections from vested interests.
Media release – Senator Nick McKim, 27 November 2025
Greens strike a blow for Tasmanian forest protection
The Greens’ agreement on changes to federal environment laws are a significant step forward for protection of Tasmania’s forests.
“Today’s agreement to improve federal environment laws marks a significant step towards better protection for forests and ecosystems right around Australia,” Australian Greens Forests spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.
“Tasmania’s beautiful native forests have been trashed with impunity for far too long. Ending the RFA exemption is a significant win for our forests and should hasten the end of the native forest logging industry.”
“This will see the end of an outrageous legal carve-out for logging that’s resulted in devastation for forests and threatened species habitats across the country.”
“This is the best outcome achievable from negotiation with a Labor Party that has a track record of being actively hostile to the environment, and cares more about corporate profits than protecting nature.
“It is crucial that the financial support announced by the Commonwealth today is used to transition out of native forest logging and into plantations, rewilding and environmental management.”
“These are jobs rich industries which offer massive opportunities for workers and regional communities. ”
“Businesses that have repeatedly been bought out of the industry then returned in another guise should be excluded.”
“Forest campaigners have fought for decades to defend our forests, and this fight will go on until native forest logging is ended. See you in the streets and on the blockades.”
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 27 November 2025
Brown rounds on Albanese and Watt
“This is Labor legislation, and Albanese and Watt will wear it,” said Bob Brown.
“Congratulations to The Greens for rescuing it from the even worse Coalition fire. Sarah Hanson-Young and Leader Larissa Waters have made important gains, especially in taking Australia a step towards saving the forest and woodland habitats of many threatened species.
“Prime Minister Albanese said his legislation would “protect the environment” – it won’t. It leaves years more of citizen struggle to defend the forests and their wildlife as well as other crucial habitats across the nation.”
“Our appeals to get Takayna the World Heritage protection it deserves were rebuffed with a pitchfork by Albanese and Watt. Playing off the Greens with the Coalition is like playing off the Angels with Bluebeard. Nevertheless, the Greens were able to block some holes in Watt’s legislative sieve,” concluded Brown.
“In the Central Highlands, Takayna, Styx Valleys, in the Greater Glider and Koala forests of NSW, to the forest of this nation, the citizen blockades and protests will have to continue until the bulldozers leave these endangered species habitats,” said Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaigns Director.
“The fact that logging will continue to be exempt from Federal Environment laws for another eighteen months shows Albanese is with the chainsaws not with Australia’s natural wealth and the majority of Australians who want logging ended now. In Tasmania, Albanese is with the 12% of voters who support ongoing logging,” said Weber.
Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Environment spokesperson, 26 November 2025
Polling Shows Tasmanians Want Environment Protection
New polling commissioned by the Wilderness Society shows the majority of Tasmanians are concerned about the environment and support an end to native forest logging.
It should be a wake up call for the Liberal Government and stimulate real action to protect the environment.
The DemosAU poll shows 88% of Tasmanians are concerned about the environment.
57% of respondents supported an end to native forest logging, while only 12% show any support at all.
46% of people saw the Liberals’ performance on the environment as poor or terrible, while 38% expressed disappointment in Labor.
The Greens have always known just how deeply Tasmanians care about the environment, and these results only confirm that.
We’re in a biodiversity and climate crisis, and the major parties aren’t doing enough to protect the Tasmanian environment.
It’s clear they’re not living up to Tasmanians’ expectations.
It’s time the Liberals and Labor stopped putting their mates in destructive industries before the Tasmanian environment.
We must protect the environment, and end native forest logging.
Featured image above: Takayna / Tarkine courtesy Bob Brown Foundation.
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