UPDATE: Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has issued a stark warning about impending job losses in Tasmania following a controversial “dirty deal” between the government and the Greens to enact new environment laws. The overhaul of Australia’s environmental protection regime, which was passed in parliament on December 1, 2023, is now threatening the future of the forestry industry on the Apple Isle.
In a speech to the Tasmanian Liberals state council on Sunday, Ley emphasized that the reforms would eliminate the industry’s exemption from national standards, potentially leading to thousands of job cuts across the state. “This is a death knell for our forestry sector,” Ley stated, highlighting the dire implications for tens of thousands of workers nationwide.
The government has countered these concerns by announcing a $300 million support package aimed at securing jobs and sustaining output. However, Ley dismissed this initiative as mere “life support” for an industry on the brink of collapse. “You don’t put a life support package on the table unless you want to kill an industry,” she asserted during an interview with Sky News.
The Australian Forest Products Association echoed Ley’s concerns, arguing that the removal of Regional Forest Agreements—critical long-term management plans—will choke the native forestry sector with excessive regulations and hinder future investments in plantations.
These sweeping reforms were expedited as the Labor Party sought to appease both the coalition and the Greens, ultimately opting for a deal with the minor party. Ley criticized the government for rushing the legislation ahead of the Christmas break, stating, “This is a very bad bill, unnecessarily rushed, done for political reasons.”
In defense of the new laws, Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher asserted that the reforms would align forestry with other industries, facilitating quicker project assessments. However, Ley pointed to the oil and gas lobby’s warnings that these changes could lead to soaring electricity prices, intensifying the debate over the legislation.
As Tasmania braces for potential economic fallout, the future of the forestry industry hangs in the balance. Industry leaders are preparing for a challenging landscape as the government’s environmental policies take effect, raising urgent questions about job security and economic stability in the region.
What’s next? Stakeholders are closely monitoring the implementation of these reforms and the impact on the workforce. Further developments are expected in the coming weeks as the government outlines the details of its support package and industry leaders respond to the new regulatory environment.
