Federal Court rules that VicForests broke code of practice for native logging in state’s Central Highlands

An environmental group has won a major legal battle against the state’s logging business after the Federal Court found VicForests had not followed rules to protect endangered species.

A leadbeater's possum Picture: supplied

An environmental group has won a major legal battle against the state’s logging business after the Federal Court found VicForests had not followed rules to protect endangered species.

Logging in 66 coupes across Victoria’s central highlands is set to grind to a halt after the ruling was handed down in favour of Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum Inc.

They successfully argued the government-owned company had not followed the code of practice for the area’s regional forestry agreement at 26 coupes and that habitats for the Greater Glider and Leadbeater Possum had been put under threat.

The court also found that it was likely these habitats would again be put threatened if logging continued at more than 40 other coupes in the region.

The Andrews Government has committed to end native logging by 2030.

Leadbeater's Possum – Photo D Lindenmayer and M Greer

VicForests and Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum are now expected to respond to the findings, with an injunction already in place for any timber harvesting in areas covered by the case.

The ruling may now put the matter under federal laws and become an issue for Environment Minister Susan Ley.

Environmental Justice Australia senior lawyer Danya Jacobs said the result set up a new legal precedent.

“The logging industry has operated for 20 years as if it doesn’t have to comply with our federal environment laws because of Regional Forest Agreements, this case overturns that position and clearly finds that the exemption can and will be lost where threatened species protections are not complied with,” she said.

Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum spokesman Steve Meacher said no government was exempt from rules to protect species.

“This is a huge win, not just for the Leadbeater’s Possum and the Greater Glider but for wildlife threatened by logging across the country,” he said.

“We must stop the senseless logging of critical threatened species’ habitat or we will drive them to extinction.”

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