High Court backs Tasmania’s sustainable forest industriesFriday 25 Jun 2021 The Bob Brown Foundation's legal battle to stop native forest logging in Tasmania has come to an apparent end, with the High Court rejecting the conservation group's appeal bid. The foundation was seeking to appeal a Federal Court judgment that validated the island state's regional forestry agreement (RFA).In a legal challenge dubbed the "Great Forest Case", Dr Brown’s foundation had argued Tasmania's regional forestry agreement was invalid because it did not properly protect threatened native animals. Tasmania's Liberal government, Labor opposition, peak forestry body and state-owned forestry company Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) all supported the earlier Federal Court ruling. The Federal Court judgment agreed with STT that there is a broader suite of environmental protections in force in Tasmania. State Resources Minister Guy Barnett said the High Court decision cements the validity of Tasmania's regional forestry agreement "beyond doubt". "I sincerely hope (the Bob Brown Foundation) accept the umpire's decision and cease their relentless campaign against Tasmanian workers and their families." Federal Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Jonno Duniam, said the ruling was a win for common sense and regional economies. AFPA CEO Mr Ross Hampton welcomed the High Court’s affirmation of the Tasmanian RFA, which underpins the state’s robust environmental laws regulating forestry operations. Mr Hampton said the decision was yet another failed attack by activist groups against Australia’s sustainable timber industry. It follows the Federal Court’s unanimous decision last month that upheld the legality of forestry operations under Victoria’s Central Highland’s RFA. |
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