The Bob Brown Foundation has secured a significant victory in the Supreme Court with a judge ruling that the Foundation has adequately established its case against Forestry Tasmania regarding the logging of crucial Critically Endangered Swift Parrot habitat.
The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) is one of the world’s few truly migratory parrots, breeding exclusively in the eucalypt forests of Tasmania before migrating to mainland Australia. Facing an extreme risk of extinction in the wild, this species’ population has been severely impacted by the loss of its unique nesting and foraging grounds due to activities like native forest logging.

Media Release – Bob Brown Foundation, 2 December 2025
Bob Brown Foundation win in the Supreme Court for Swift Parrots
A Supreme Court judge has today ruled that Forestry Tasmania have more than enough information to proceed with a case brought against them by Bob Brown Foundation.
Forestry Tasmania are a year late in filing their affadavits in the court case, with Associate Justice Daly saying
‘Sustainable Timber was directed to file and serve any affidavit upon which it intended to rely by 6 November 2024, but it failed to comply with that direction.’
Forestry Tasmania lost in the Supreme court today when the court decided that Bob Brown Foundation has adequately set out the case it will make at trial.
“Critically endangered Swift Parrots were present in a forest in Southern Tasmania, while the logging of their habitat was occurring. The logging plan certifier, Forestry Tasmania and Forest Practices Authority were aware of the presence of Swift Parrots, but the plan to log the forests was signed off and the logging proceeded to destroy habitat for one of the rarest parrots on Earth. Bob Brown Foundation sought an injunction and the forests have been silent from chainsaws since January 2024, when the Supreme Court injunction was granted,” said Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaigns Director.
We will seek costs from Forestry Tasmania and now await the court notice of when we return to court and fight the substantial case for these forests and defend the Swift Parrots from ongoing logging.
Supreme Court Judgement here – Bob Brown Foundation Inc v Spicer (No 4)
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