The Albanese Labor Government has taken another important step in preventing trans-border environmental crime with a bill to more effectively combat illegally logged timber from entering the Australian market passing the Parliament.
The Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024 implements new timber testing powers, trialled under the Government's recent $4.4m initiative.
It will help trace illegally logged timber right back to its source, and provide greater control at the border through new notice requirements and stricter penalties for those who do the wrong thing.
The Bill provides for the replacement of the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012, set to expire in 2025, with the Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024 under development.
The new rules will streamline the due diligence process for timber importers and processors while effectively combatting illegally logged timber from entering the market.
Around 10 per cent of timber imported to Australia was estimated to be illegally logged before Australia first introduced its illegal logging prohibition laws in 2012.
Illegal imports impact our local forest growers and can undercut the prices of sustainable timber by 7 to 16 per cent.
A draft of the rules is currently open for public comment via: Reforming Australia's illegal logging laws - Agriculture hub
