By Callum Ludwig
The Victorian Greens are pushing for native logging to end this year, seven years ahead of the Victorian Government’s 2030 goal.
The party introduced a bill on Tuesday 21 February that would bring the ban on native forest logging forward to 30 June 2023 and would also repeal the Wood Pulp Agreement Act 1994.
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens Ellen Sandell said the state’s last paper mill is about to close permanently, which means the Andrews Labor Government has no more excuses for allowing logging to destroy our native forests.
“The Government has been propping up the logging industry with millions in taxpayer dollars, even when VicForests has been found to be illegally logging in areas right across Victoria,” she said.
“Logging in native forests needs to end now – not in seven years when we have no forests left.”
The proposal was sparked by the announcement that the white paper operations at the Maryvale mill will be permanently closed, as well as the party’s concerns regarding the 2019 bushfires and ongoing impacts of climate change.
Under the Wood Pulp Agreement Act 1994, at least 300,000 cubic metres of pulp logs were legislated to be sourced annually from Victoria’s ash forests and delivered to the Maryvale pulp mills.
“If the Government cared about threatened species habitat, they would bring forward the transition package for workers, move to getting our wood from plantations, and support the Greens’ bill to stop native forest logging now,” said Ms Sandell.
Following a Supreme Court judgement in November 2022, VicForests issued stand down orders to native forest logging contractors and provided access to compensation for all mills who would not be receiving contracted levels of supply. The Victorian Greens argue this stand down makes it a perfect time to halt native forest logging this year.
The Victorian Greens pointed to the carbon report released by the Victorian Forest Alliance which stated that an immediate end to native forest logging could prevent 14 million tonnes of carbon emissions as another key reason to consider their proposal.
The party wants the Victorian Government’s $200 million package for transitioning workers out of native forest logging to be brought forward immediately and for contractors to be given new jobs in disaster management, prevention and recovery and forest regeneration.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said during this challenging time, their focus is supporting timber workers and industry.
“For the Greens to announce this bill just days after Opal announced its exit from white paper shows exactly what they think of workers and their families,” they said.
The Victorian Government remains committed to phasing out native timber harvesting supported by significant investment in a just transition.
