Legislation to outlaw the importing of illegally logged timber into Australia has passed the House of Representatives. The Federal Government said the trade in timber logged illegally overseas threatens Australian forestry jobs by undercutting local product. Source: ABC News, Ninemsn
The Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill requires importers to prove the timber was cut down legally.
The Coalition voted against the legislation, even though it has a policy to address the issue. The Nationals’ John Cobb told the House the legislation is flawed and it has worried four of Australia’s trading partners, including Indonesia.
“Bearing in mind that timber products commonly have long and complex chains of
supply, with mixed sources form different locations, the Government of Indonesia has recommended the deferral of the legislation until 2015 to ensure that the legislation will not have the unintended consequences that will unnecessarily harm the mutual trade between our two nations,” he said.
The Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne said the legislation is a step in the right direction, but the Greens will try to pass amendments to the legislation in the senate, including tightening the definition of illegal logging.
But Senator Milne said the Greens would vote with the Government to pass the legislation in the senate even if those amendments don’t succeed.
Federal Forestry Minister Senator Joe Ludwig says the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill “complements the efforts of the United States and Europe to stem the illegally logged timber trade which the World Bank says is managed by ‘sophisticated criminal networks’.
