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Illegal Logging
In early 2012 the department will be holding seminars on the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 in capital cities. For more information or to register your interest to attend, visit our consultation page.
The Senate Standing Committees on Regional, Rural Affairs and Transport have completed the second public inquiry into the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011.
Illegal logging is a major problem for many developing nations, causing forest degradation, loss of habitat and biodiversity, threatening sustainable livelihoods and contributing to global carbon emissions.
On 23 November 2011, the Australian Government introduced the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 with the intention of restricting the importation and sale of illegally logged timber within Australia.
A copy of the Bill and accompanying explanatory memorandum can be viewed on the Parlinfo website.
The Bill will restrict the importation and sale of illegally logged timber in Australia through the following ways:
- Importing timber products containing illegally logged timber will be prohibited.
- Processing domestically grown raw logs that have been illegally logged will be prohibited.
- Importers of regulated timber products and processors of raw logs will be required to fulfil due diligence requirements.
- Establishing comprehensive monitoring and investigation powers to enforce the above requirements of the Bill.
The Bill provides for the development of regulations to prescribe due diligence requirements and timber products to be regulated. These elements will be developed in consultation with stakeholders and will commence two years after the proposed legislation passes the Parliament. The Bill also establishes offences and penalties, including up to five years imprisonment for importing illegal timber products, as well as a comprehensive monitoring and enforcement regime.
The proposed legislation will help create an even economic playing field for the purchase and sale of legally logged timber products in Australia and will give consumers and businesses greater certainty about the legality of the timber products they buy.
The Bill will deliver on the government’s 2010 election commitment by:
- Introducing legislation to make it an offence to import any timber product that has not been verified as legally harvested.
- Implementing a code of conduct to ensure suppliers that place timber on the market have carried out the proper tests to ensure wood coming into the country is legal.
This legislation will be supported by continued bilateral cooperation with Asia—Pacific countries and multilateral engagement on forestry through existing forums.
An exposure draft and explanatory memorandum of the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 were referred to the Senate Committee for Rural Affairs and Transport on 23 March 2011 for public inquiry. Stakeholders including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry made submissions to the inquiry. On 23 June 2011 the Senate Committee released a report that included seven recommendations and a dissenting report. An Australian Government response to the report formally addresses these recommendations.
Media Releases
- 23 November 2011 — Gillard Government’s strong action to stop illegal timber trade
- 24 March 2011 — Draft illegal logging legislation referred to Committee
- 9 December 2010 — Australian Government takes strong action on illegal timber imports
- 12 August 2010 — Government takes strong action on illegal timber imports
- A Healthy Environment — Election 2010
- 12 February 2010 — Government responds to report on illegal logging
- 13 October 2009 — Significant step forward in fight against illegal logging
More information
06 Mar 2012