This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Climate, energy & environment
Native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales would lose its special federal carve-outA special exception in the law that lets native forest logging avoid rules that would otherwise apply., so normal national environment law would apply to forestry operations.
Regional Forest Agreements have failed their forest protection goals and left native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. exempt from normal federal environment laws. This bill scraps that framework, ends the agreements, applies the EPBC ActAustralia's main federal environment law, which this bill would make apply to native forest logging in the same way it applies to other major projects. to logging, and requires annual reports on impacts on conservation and threatened species goals.
Since the late 20th century, native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales has operated under Regional Forest Agreements meant to balance conservation and timber jobs, but critics argued by 2020 that the system was failing and its special exemption from federal environment law let logging continue without the checks other industries face. After a December 2022 ABC report exposed illegal VicForests logging in Victoria, the Greens introduced this bill in March 2023 to scrap the RFAA long-term deal between the Commonwealth and a state that lets native forest logging operate under a special federal setup. framework and remove the exemption, but it was voted down in June 2023 and the government said in September 2024 that it would keep RFAs while adding national environmental standardsThe tougher federal rules the government says it wants to apply to forest agreements instead of ending them..
Critics said the bill would effectively shut down native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. too bluntly, risking timber jobs, regional communities and domestic wood supply while shifting demand offshore to places with weaker environmental standardsThe tougher federal rules the government says it wants to apply to forest agreements instead of ending them.. That case was raised by Labor, the Coalition, the Nationals and One Nation in Senate debate, so the opposition was broad rather than just a narrow drafting concern.
Senator Janet Rice introduced this bill. It was supported by Greens, some crossbench members; opposed by Labor, Liberal Party, Jacqui Lambie Network, Nationals, One Nation; and did not pass.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
Did not pass
2 recorded votes before the bill stopped proceeding
Time before failure
98 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
Native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales would lose its special federal carve-outA special exception in the law that lets native forest logging avoid rules that would otherwise apply., so normal national environment law would apply to forestry operations.
The bill would scrap the law behind Regional Forest Agreements, ending the federal framework that currently supports native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets..
Existing Regional Forest Agreements between the CommonwealthThe federal Australian government, which makes the laws and agreements this bill would change. and states would be terminated, and wood from those forests would still be covered by export control lawsLaws that still apply to timber from terminated regional forest agreement areas, even if the forest agreement ends..
The Environment MinisterThe minister who would have to table the yearly report on how native forest logging affects Australia's conservation target. would have to tableTo formally present a document in Parliament so it becomes part of the public record. a yearly report on how native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. affects Australia’s goal to conserve at least 30% of land by 2030.
The Threatened Species CommissionerThe federal office-holder who would have to report each year on how native forest logging affects species at risk of extinction. would also have to tableTo formally present a document in Parliament so it becomes part of the public record. a yearly report on how native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. affects Australia’s goal of stopping threatened species extinctions.
Critically, forests covered by RFAs have had exemptions from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). This Bill would see the application of the EPBC Act to forestry operations, ensuring the same level of environmental approvals and protections as are applied to any other extractive industry.Ending Native Forest Logging explanatory memorandum
4. Item 1 repeals the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002 (‘the RFA Act 2002’).Ending Native Forest Logging explanatory memorandum
6. Item 3 clarifies that on commencement of Part 1 of the Act, a Regional Forest Agreement that is in force between the Commonwealth and a State under the RFA Act 2002 is terminated. It also clarifies that:Ending Native Forest Logging explanatory memorandum
12. The first requirement is in new section 516C which provides for the preparation and tabling of an annual statement from the Minister on the impact of native forest logging on the progress towards achieving Australia’s conservation target to conserve at least 30% of land in Australia by 2030. Australia’s conservation target is to be interpreted in a manner consistent with Target 3 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (the COP 15 agreement).Ending Native Forest Logging explanatory memorandum
13. The second requirement is in new section 516D which provides for the tabling of an annual statement from the Threatened Species Commissioner on the impact of native forest logging on Australia’s zero extinction target. Australia’s zero extinction target is to be interpreted in a manner consistent with Target 4 of the COP 15 agreement.Ending Native Forest Logging explanatory memorandum
Context
Since the late 20th century, native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales has operated under Regional Forest Agreements meant to balance conservation and timber jobs, but critics argued by 2020 that the system was failing and its special exemption from federal environment law let logging continue without the checks other industries face. After a December 2022 ABC report exposed illegal VicForests logging in Victoria, the Greens introduced this bill in March 2023 to scrap the RFAA long-term deal between the Commonwealth and a state that lets native forest logging operate under a special federal setup. framework and remove the exemption, but it was voted down in June 2023 and the government said in September 2024 that it would keep RFAs while adding national environmental standardsThe tougher federal rules the government says it wants to apply to forest agreements instead of ending them..
Regional Forest Agreements set up native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. framework
The CommonwealthThe federal Australian government, which makes the laws and agreements this bill would change. and states established ten Regional Forest Agreements covering most native forests in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales to manage conservation and timber production over the long term.
Ending Native Forest Logging explanatory memorandum ↗Report says Regional Forest Agreements have failed
Senator Rice's second reading speech said the 2020 report Creating Jobs, Protecting Forests? found the agreements had failed on forest protection, threatened species and timber supply alike.
Second reading speech ↗ABC report exposes illegal VicForests logging
A December 2022 ABC report, cited in the second reading speech, alleged widespread illegal logging of hundreds of hectares of Mountain Ash forest by the Victorian government-owned logging agency VicForests.
Second reading speech ↗Greens introduce bill to end the RFAA long-term deal between the Commonwealth and a state that lets native forest logging operate under a special federal setup. carve-outA special exception in the law that lets native forest logging avoid rules that would otherwise apply.
The bill was introduced to repeal the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002The law that gives effect to the regional forest agreement system and creates the carve-out this bill would repeal., terminate existing agreements and make native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. subject to the EPBC ActAustralia's main federal environment law, which this bill would make apply to native forest logging in the same way it applies to other major projects. like other extractive industries.
Hansard ↗Senate rejects the bill
The bill's second reading was negatived, stopping the push to abolish the federal framework for native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets..
Parliamentary timeline ↗Government backs keeping RFAs with new standards
The government said it did not support repealing the RFA ActThe law that gives effect to the regional forest agreement system and creates the carve-out this bill would repeal. and would instead keep Regional Forest Agreements operating while applying new national environmental standardsThe tougher federal rules the government says it wants to apply to forest agreements instead of ending them. to them.
Hansard ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading negatived
Key criticism
Critics said the bill would effectively shut down native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. too bluntly, risking timber jobs, regional communities and domestic wood supply while shifting demand offshore to places with weaker environmental standardsThe tougher federal rules the government says it wants to apply to forest agreements instead of ending them.. That case was raised by Labor, the Coalition, the Nationals and One Nation in Senate debate, so the opposition was broad rather than just a narrow drafting concern.
Most criticism focused on economic disruption and transition planning, not on rejecting stronger environmental oversight in principle.
Regional job losses and community harm
Opponents argued the bill would end native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. too abruptly and damage workers, contractors and timber towns that rely on the industry.
Offshoring could worsen outcomes
Several senators said stopping Australian native forestry would not remove demand for timber, but push production overseas, potentially causing worse environmental and climate outcomes elsewhere.
Too blunt, with poor transition planning
Government opponents said the bill repealed the Regional Forest Agreements framework without proper consultation or a managed transition, creating uncertainty where they preferred tighter standards and staged reform.
Further sources
Votes
These were the main recorded votes on the bill.
Defeated 13 to 0. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents.
Defeated 13 to 32. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Jacqui Lambie Network, and Nationals.
These are votes on the bill itself rather than amendment votes.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Rice supports the bill and argues it should end native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. by closing the Regional Forest Agreements loophole that she says lets destructive logging avoid environmental protections.
Read in Hansard ↗Jonathon Duniam opposes the bill and says the opposition will not support it because he считает it is driven by emotion and ideology rather than science, and because he argues it would harm workers and regional communities.
Read in Hansard ↗Pocock supports the bill and says native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. should end because it worsens climate impacts, destroys habitat, and does not make economic sense.
Read in Hansard ↗Sterle says the government will oppose the bill because it would end native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. immediately without consultation and would damage regional jobs and communities.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 3 oppose
“Compare this to the approach of the Greens political party. The Greens come in and seek to have this parliament agree to an immediate cessation of native forest logging without any consultation with the affected communities, industries or workers. I find that gobsmacking, but we shouldn't be surprised. This is how they operate.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The government does not support this bill, the Ending Native Forest Logging Bill 2023. Unfortunately, it's another political stunt by the Greens political party that shows, again, they are far from understanding the considerations necessary for being a responsible government for Australia.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“These are some of the many reasons the Australian government does not support the repeal of the RFA Act.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
2 speakers · 4 contributions · 2 oppose
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Jonathon Duniam on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Jonathon Duniam opposes the bill and says the opposition will not support it because he считает it is driven by emotion and ideology rather than science, and because he argues it would harm workers and regional communities. He also says the bill would push demand offshore and create worse environmental outcomes globally.
“The opposition won't be supporting this bill either. It is bad legislation based on nothing more than emotion and ideology, and not on science or fact, as I'm sure the minister and his colleagues—no matter how many references to marine parks are in their speeches—would agree.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Jonathon Duniam opposes the bill and urges senators to vote it down, arguing that ending native forestry would harm the environment, the economy and climate outcomes by shifting production offshore rather than improving management. He says the Greens' case is ideological and not based on science.
“I implore all senators to vote against this disastrous bill.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Perin Davey on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Davey says the Nationals will oppose the bill because it would hurt timber workers and undermine a sustainable native forestry industry. She argues the policy would just shift demand overseas and threaten local jobs and supply.
“We will not be supporting this bill. We will be supporting all of our foresters, loggers and sawmillers across Australia—and I, in particular, will be supporting those across New South Wales. I've had meetings with the northern New South Wales timber industry, and I want them to know that I back them. I support them and I support their industry. Keep up the good work.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Davey opposes the bill and says the National Party will back the forestry industry instead, arguing native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. is sustainable, supports jobs, and provides timber needed for housing. She urges the Senate to vote against it.
“We won't be supporting this bill by any measure. We will be supporting our forestry industry. I urge this chamber to vote against this bill.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
3 speakers · 4 contributions · 3 support
“What we Australian Greens want to see is an end to native forest logging in Australia. It is an outdated practice, it should be condemned to the last century, and it should end. It should end to protect the cultural heritage that exists over all of this country.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Janet Rice on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Rice supports the bill and argues it should end native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. by closing the Regional Forest Agreements loophole that she says lets destructive logging avoid environmental protections. She says native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. is harming biodiversity, water, climate and fire risk, and that the government has failed to act.
“Native forest logging has had its day. It is destroying our environment. This bill would end the destruction. It would close the RFA loophole, so that the limited environmental protections we have in place would genuinely apply to forests, offering some level of protection that's greater than what we face now.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Rice supports the bill and wants it to pass, saying it would end native forest loggingLogging of forests that are naturally grown rather than plantations, which is the activity this bill targets. in the remaining states and protect forests, wildlife, First Nations heritage and the climate. She argues the government and opposition are failing to act and that a just transition is needed for affected workers and communities.
“In conclusion, I commend this bill to the Senate, but I don't expect it to have the support of either the government or the opposition. Sadly, both parties at the federal level are still back in the Dark Ages, unable to recognise what needs to happen to allow our forests and our wildlife to flourish.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“This bill is timely because we are in the midst of a debate in this place about Australia's failing environmental laws. The government have put forward an environmental protection agency, but they have no laws to protect nature, no laws to protect our native forests from the bulldozers and the chainsaws and no laws to protect koalas from having their homes logged and destroyed, so what will this environmental protection agency do? It has nothing to implement. It has no laws to oversee that actually look after nature and protect our forests, our wildlife and our woodlands. It will be a missed opportunity if we don't do something now. The government want a cop on the beat for our environment, but they've given the cop no laws to implement. We need to fix that, and one of the key things we can do to fix that is pass this bill today.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 oppose
“One Nation opposes this bill, because we are the party of the environment and we know the current system is best for the environment. As someone who has personally planted thousands of trees, rehabilitated land and protected coastlines, I know One Nation is now the party of the natural environment.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“I thank Senator Rice for the opportunity to speak on the Ending Native Forest Logging Bill 2023, and I will be supporting this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading negatived
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
