Forests

Australia’s native forests are among Earth's most biodiverse and ecologically significant ecosystems.

They provide critical habitat for threatened wildlife, support clean air and water, and store enormous amounts of carbon, making them essential in the fight against climate change. 

Yet, for decades, governments have allowed destructive logging to continue, releasing millions of tonnes of carbon, driving species to the brink of extinction, and devastating ecosystems that have existed for millennia.

Labor and Liberal governments have failed to act, permitting logging operations that destroy intact forests, pollute waterways, and fuel worsening bushfires. 

Greens advocacy and community campaigns have led to the end of native forest logging in Victoria and Western Australia, while other states—like Tasmania and New South Wales—continue to exploit loopholes.

The Greens will take decisive action to end native forest logging nationwide, close legal loopholes that allow destruction to continue, and invest in restoring forests and supporting workers in a just transition to sustainable industries.

Explore our plan

End Native Forest Logging by Closing Legal Loopholes

For decades, outdated agreements between federal and state governments have allowed native forest logging to continue, bypassing key environmental protections. The Greens will abolish these legal loopholes to permanently protect forests, wildlife, and carbon stores.

The Greens’ Plan:

  • End the destruction of native forests by repealing the Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) that allow logging to bypass national environmental laws.
Improve Carbon Accounting and Prevent Greenwashing

Despite the massive carbon emissions caused by logging, Australia’s current carbon accounting system fails to reflect the damage accurately. The Greens will reform carbon reporting to ensure that ending native forest logging delivers real climate benefits—not loopholes for fossil fuel polluters.

The Greens’ Plan:

  • Make emissions accounting transparent by investing $5 million over four years to fully reflect the carbon savings of ending native forest logging.

 

Fund Ecological Restoration and a Just Transition for Workers

Native forest logging is an unsustainable and declining industry. Yet, governments continue to prop it up with public subsidies while failing to support affected workers. The Greens will invest in ecological restoration and create long-term, sustainable jobs to help forest communities thrive.

The Greens’ Plan:

  • Restore logged forests and protect biodiversity with a $10 billion investment over 20 years to rehabilitate ecosystems and support sustainable industries.
  • Support workers and communities by funding transition programs, retraining opportunities, and green job creation to replace native forest logging.

 

 

More information on this policy initiative will be released soon.