With the stroke of a pen rolling over last century’s destructive logging laws, WA Labor has signed the death warrant on threatened animals like the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum, say the Australian Greens.
“This rollover is the first by a Labor government. While federal Labor talks tall about strengthening federal environmental laws, the WA Labor government is allowing precious native forests to be destroyed for another 20 years,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens forests spokesperson.
“The Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) give loggers guaranteed supplies of timber from our forests and exempts them from federal environmental laws.”
“They were set up last century to protect the environment and give certainty to the industry. They’ve done neither. They are destroying our native forests, pushing threatened animals to the brink of extinction, and are failing to provide a secure future for regional communities.”
“It’s time to shift wood production to 100% sustainable plantations from the current 88%. We can do it, we just need political will from the major parties.”
