NSW's misuse of carbon scheme abandons koalas & workersFriday 19 Sep 2025
Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said, “The proposed carbon method put forward by the NSW Government, to bankroll its own park proposal, fails on so many levels it defies credibility and flies in the face of the integrity standards set by the Australian Government for the national scheme.” “First, it fails on the additionality test, where the conversion of state forest to parks has been demonstrably common practice by state governments over many decades in the absence of a carbon credit.” “Second, it fails on the scale test, where the Queensland Government has written to the Australian Government making it clear they do not support this method and recognise the multiple benefits including timber production, recreation and ecosystem services from existing state forests as part of their new timber plan.” ‘Third, it fails to address the science on superior long term abatement from well-managed forests with sustainable timber harvest and substitution of emission intensive materials with wood products. In other words, the NSW method is likely to lead to lower overall abatement compared to the baseline of continuing state forest management,” said Mr Stephens. There are also a myriad of other flawed design and measurement issues contained in the method, generating significant bias and uncertainty over the perceived carbon benefits, which should have triggered multiple red flags through the method prioritisation process. These issues are outlined in the Timber Queensland submission to the NSW Government consultation process. The fact that the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage are yet to respond to the submissions received from their consultation in July suggests stonewalling given widespread critique of the method. Equally concerning, is the potential wasteful use of carbon credits to fund the park where this is intended as a one-off hit for a political purpose with no additionality. This is market distortion at the expense of other genuine abatement. Any reputable Treasurer or economist should see this as deliberate gaming of the scheme and a misuse of significant public funds. “This decision from the Minns Government comes straight out of the playbook of the Labor left to restrict native forestry for Greens preferences to maintain power. However, it is clear there has now been significant over-reach in trying to push through a dodgy carbon method in addition to an ideological decision to create an unnecessary park to protect koala populations.” This decision will also have devastating impacts on native hardwood businesses and regional jobs. The sincerity of the Labor left with support packages must be questioned when there is no credible public policy need to cease sustainable timber production in these forests.” More >> Source & image credit: Timber Queensland  | ||
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