Cut off public money for native forest logging and use federal powers to end it — back it or block it?

The Greens' Nick McKim moved that the Senate declare it urgent for the government to stop all public subsidies to native forest logging and use every available Commonwealth power to end the practice. He and other Greens pointed to a Four Corners report they said showed public logs being shipped from Tasmania to Victoria with the help of taxpayer-funded freight and fuel schemes. Independent David Pocock backed the motion, citing more than $1.3 billion in accumulated losses in Tasmania. Labor and the Coalition opposed it, arguing Australia's native forestry is sustainably managed, supports regional jobs, and that shutting it down would just push logging offshore to countries with weaker standards. After about 40 minutes the Senate voted it down, 12 votes to 28.

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📄 Senate Hansard, 23 Jun 2026 — Forestry Industry

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The strongest case each way

For · Greens (Nick McKim)Native forest logging destroys biodiverse forests, emits large amounts of carbon and only survives because taxpayers prop it up; the Commonwealth should close loopholes letting subsidised whole logs be shipped across Bass Strait and use its powers to end native logging where states won't.

For · David Pocock (Ind)Native forest logging is no longer profitable, employs few people and mostly produces low-value woodchips; taxpayers have bankrolled more than $1.3 billion in losses in Tasmania alone, and that money could instead fund a transition of workers into plantations, tourism and land management.

Against · Coalition (Ross Cadell)Ending Australian native logging doesn't save forests or animals — it just shifts demand to imports from places like Indonesia, Brazil and Russia with weaker protections, costs regional jobs, and leaves forests unmanaged and vulnerable to fire, as happened in the Pilliga.

Against · Government (Labor)The Commonwealth does not subsidise day-to-day native logging, which is run by the states; Australia is a net timber importer, plantations alone can't meet demand for housing, and native forestry operates under some of the world's most rigorous standards while supporting regional jobs and fire management.