Australia is stepping up its fight against the illegal logging trade with Labor’s Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 passed by the Australian Parliament but will ‘rogue’ environmental groups use it as a ‘blunt instrument’? Sources: Timberbiz, Herald Sun, Business Spectator
The landmark legislation outlaws the trade of illegally harvested timber in Australia.
Illegal logging costs around $60 billion globally each year and directly threatens timber jobs and businesses by undercutting the price of legally logged timber.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the passage of the legislation reflects Australia’s commitment to legitimate forestry industries.
“The illegal timber trade is a trade that benefits no one,” Minister Ludwig said. “It risks jobs, it risks the timber industry, and it risks the environment.
“The Gillard Government brought a commitment to the last election to outlaw the trade of illegally harvested timber. Today we delivered on it.”
Minister Ludwig said the legislation does not discriminate against timber or timber products based on country of origin.
“The Act will make it an offence to import illegally logged timber into the Australian market and to process timber that has been illegally harvested here in Australia,” Minister Ludwig said.
“It places requirements on Australian importers and processors – not on our trading partners or exporters.
“The Australian Government has consulted widely with importers, processors, industry associations, retailers, conservation groups and our trading partners to develop this Act.
“We will continue to work with each of these stakeholders as we implement it.
“Illegal logging is a serious issue and the Gillard Government is serious about combating it.
“Labor and the Coalition both promised to outlaw illegal logging prior to the last election. It was a shame that bipartisan commitment wasn’t honoured by the Coalition when the time came to vote.”
Opposition senator Richard Colbeck said the coalition did not support the bill without some “sensible modifications”.
“We don’t want to provide a blunt instrument for rogue environmental groups to attack legitimate businesses,” he said.
Liberal senator Ian Macdonald said Australia once had a sustainable forest sector but the Greens had slowly destroyed what was a major industry.
“This bill wouldn’t be needed if Australia had continued its vibrant, sustainable native forest industry,” he told the chamber.
Australians and local companies imported illegally logged wood from the Asia-Pacific whereas previously the nation had exported timber.
“Thanks Greens party, you have contributed to the raping and pillaging of some very special tropical timbers in countries in South-East Asia and in the Pacific,” Senator Macdonald said.
The passage of the legislation brings Australia into line with the European Union and the US, who have also taken action to prohibit the trade of illegally harvested timber.
