Federal Labor Candidate for Bass Jess Teesdale changes stance on native forestry logging position

In the space of an hour, Federal Labor Candidate for Bass Jess Teesdale went from wanting to see native forestry logging end in Tasmania to supporting the industry. What went down.

Jess Teesdale, Labor's candidate for Bass at the next federal election. Picture: Supplied

Federal Labor Candidate for Bass Jess Teesdale has gone from saying she wants to see the end of native forestry logging in Tasmania to supporting the industry in less than an hour.

During an interview on ABC Radio on Thursday afternoon, Ms Teesdale was asked if she would like to see the state government end native forest logging.

She said yes, despite the Labor Party supporting the industry.

Less than an hour later, Ms Teesdale issued a statement clarifying her position.

“The Albanese Labor Government is not changing its policy on Native Forestry logging. These are state forests managed by the Tasmanian Liberal Government,” she said.

“We support the jobs and the communities that rely upon this industry.”

Ms Teesdale did not front the media on Friday, but Federal Labor Minister Julie Collins said “she made a mistake yesterday.”

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos – March 27, 2025: Julie Collins during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“This is a young, first-time candidate in her second every radio interview. She made a mistake; she owned it,” Ms Collins said.

“She’s made a statement, she got straight on and clarified it straight away immediately after her interview yesterday.

“Labor has been very clear, our position hasn’t changed.”

Ms Teesdale is hoping to remove Liberal incumbent Bridget Archer from the seat in Bass.

Ms Archer said she wanted Ms Teesdale to “answer as to what her views really are about” regarding native forestry logging.

“I think what we’re seeing now is a sort of crisis management from the Labor Party who are having to intervene to clean up after their candidate,” she said.

“But we need to know what are the views.

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. June 5, 2024: Bridget Archer MP during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Is this just a case of holding those views privately and then not being allowed to publicly express those.

“The party needs to come clean on what their candidate actually believes, and the candidate needs to front up an answer to those – not issue a statement that’s attributed to her mopping up the statements that she made yesterday.”

Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaigns Manager Jenny Weber praised Ms Teesdale for her initial comments.

“It’s shameful that Albanese’s federal ALP stymied Ms Teesdale’s voice with its anti-environment agenda, which is supported by Dutton’s Coalition but not the majority of Australians.”

Originally published as Federal Labor Candidate for Bass Jess Teesdale changes stance on native forestry logging position