The Greens have announced they are willing to negotiate passage of the Albanese Government's Nature Positive bills in exchange for strong action to protect native forests and critical habitat from logging and deforestation.
While the Greens will continue to push for a climate trigger as key to broadscale environmental law reform, the Prime Minister has made it clear he won't budge, refusing to allow any climate considerations as part of negotiations before the election. As such, the Greens have said in an offer of goodwill, they are willing to put the demand for a climate trigger aside in these negotiations in order to secure protection for Australia's native forests and threatened species.
The Greens say removing the Regional Forest Agreement and Continuous Use exemptions that exist in the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act are crucial for closing the loopholes that allow native forest logging and deforestation around the country.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens spokesperson for the Environment & Senator for SA:
"Time's up for up native forest logging. It's time to start protecting nature. In the coming fortnight the Prime Minister and Environment Minister can work with the Greens to save Australia's great forests from the chainsaws and the bulldozers before it's too late.
"The Prime Minister has refused to negotiate on a climate trigger this side of the election, caving into Gina Rinehart and the fossil fuel polluters in WA.
"The PM might not be willing to budge but the Greens are if it's in the best interests of our environment. For this reason, we have offered the Albanese Government passage of their Nature Positive bills in return for real action to save our native forests and critical habitat.
"Closing the legal loopholes that allow large-scale native forest logging and land clearing to go unassessed will have tangible impacts for the protection of critical habitat in Tasmania, NSW, and Northern Australia, where deforestation is out of control.
"Saving forests from logging is good for the climate, good for the animals and good for the community.
"We have the opportunity right now to stop more extinctions and protect endangered wildlife including our precious koala, swift parrot and greater glider.
"We have shifted our position here in order to get an outcome for the environment and the Prime Minister should do the same. If he does, we can pass these laws this fortnight. Without closing these logging loopholes, the bills as drafted are useless for the environment and will fast-track destruction.
"While the Government has refused to back a climate trigger, the reality facing our planet is stark: every new coal and gas mine Labor approves makes the crisis worse. The Greens will fight for a Climate Trigger at the election, and we will push the next Parliament to deliver it."
Senator Nick McKim is spokesperson for forests, Senator for Tasmania:
"Any support for Labor's so-called Nature Positive legislation must go hand in hand with action to end native forest logging.
"The loophole that exempts native forest logging from Australia's environment laws has allowed the loggers to trash nature and destroy threatened species' habitats for far too long. It has to end.
"This exemption has allowed the rampant destruction of some of the world's most precious ecosystems, which is trashing biodiversity and habitats of iconic and endangered species like the koala and swift parrot.
"Ending this exemption would herald the beginning of the end for an industry that has wreaked havoc on nature for far too long.
"If Labor is truly committed to protecting nature, they'll end their support for native forest logging. Anything less undermines the foundation of any 'nature positive' agenda.
"Our native forests are irreplaceable habitats, and crucial in the fight against climate change. The time to end native forest logging is now."
