Liberals oppose plan to pay carbon credits to keep forest standing
A carbon credits proposal in NSW — that could reach beyond its borders — has been slammed as an “underhanded attack on Tasmanian jobs”. Here’s why.
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A proposal to grant carbon credits for not cutting down trees could be disastrous for the Tasmanian forestry industry and the environment, Liberal politicians say.
The NSW government has proposed a change to the Australian Carbon Credit Units Scheme which could reward landowners for leaving forests standing.
The proposal — which would not be compulsory and the federal government says is not slated for implimentation — was on Thursday described as an “underhanded attack on Tasmanian jobs”.
Federal Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry Jonno Duniam visited the southern forests at Lonnavale and said the idea would see such forests locked up for good.
“The proposal under this paper, put forward from New South Wales is that a state-owned forest, native forest, would attract carbon credits if it is not harvested,” he said.
“So put this forest into a bank for carbon and never harvest it, and we will give you carbon credits for it.
“This is a forest under this methodology that would have been slated for harvest at some point, which would be taken out of that stream and put into literally being locked up forever for carbon abatement purposes.”
Minister for Business, Industry and Resources Eric Abetz said replacing local timber products with overseas timber products would be bad for the environment.
“If you bring wood in from elsewhere, you burn the bunker fuel to get it here, that’s bad for the environment, and you get it from places like Solomon Islands and South America, is that a good environmental outcome on any objective analysis?” he said.
“On any objective analysis, this is a perverse environmental outcome being pursued in the name of environmentalism.
“It’s not to preserve the environment — it is to preserve the Labor government with Green preferences at the next election,“
“The federal member for Franklin, Julie Collins, has to convince her colleagues that this is a bad idea.”
Australian Forest Products Association chief executive Di Hallam said the forestry industry did not support the proposal.
“It’s particularly aimed at closing down native forestry, and we believe the science behind it is rubbish,” she said.
A federal government spokeswoman denied any change to forestry policy was on the cards.
“The Albanese Labor Government is investing $300 million in the future of the forestry industry,” she said.
“The Albanese Labor Government is not changing policy when it comes to native forestry.
“We support the communities and jobs that rely on this industry.”
Greens Senator Nick McKim said native forest logging should end altogether.
“The sad reality is that both Liberal and Labor are in lock-step supporting the destruction of our native forests, and that’s bad for climate, it’s bad for biodiversity, it’s bad for water quality, it’s bad for Aboriginal cultural heritage,” he said.
“This is just political posturing by Mr Abetz and by Senator Duniam to make it look as if there’s more than a wafer of difference between the Labor and Liberal parties on native forest logging.”
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