Should commercial logging of native forests on public land in Victoria stay banned by law?
Native forest logging
Both houses · 3 votes
Background
Commercial logging of native (natural, not plantation) forest on public land stopped on 1 January 2024, six years earlier than the previously planned 2030 end, under a government decision announced in the May 2023 Budget; the Government put its total support for the forestry transition, including for workers and families, at more than $875 million. The Sustainable Forests (Timber) Repeal Bill 2024 put the end into law: it repealed the Act that authorised the logging, abolished VicForests and made it an offence to take timber from a state forest mainly for sale.
What each side said
Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.
For “agree”
Supporters said logging had become unviable after bushfires and court rulings, and that delay would hurt workers: "The longer you delay this transition, the harder it is for those workers" (Nina Taylor, ALP, 29 May 2024). The Greens and Animal Justice backed it on environmental grounds: "Forests are for conservation, not for profit" (Sarah Mansfield, Greens, 20 Jun 2024). Legalise Cannabis also voted on this side.
For “disagree”
Opponents said the industry was sustainable and "never had to end" (Emma Kealy, Nationals, 29 May 2024), that closure cost regional jobs and bushfire-fighting capacity, and that Victoria would import timber from places with weaker standards (Melina Bath, Nationals, 20 Jun 2024). The Coalition's reasoned amendments asked that the bill not proceed until affected workers and businesses received fair compensation. The Libertarian voted for the bill only because the industry had already closed, saying a sustainable and professional logging industry could operate in Victoria (David Limbrick, 20 Jun 2024). One Nation and Moira Deeming (now Family First) also voted on this side.
How the parties voted
Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out
| Party | Record | Votes with a party position |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | Consistently for | 2 of 2 |
| Greens | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Labor | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Legalise Cannabis | Consistently for | 2 of 2 |
| Liberal | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Libertarian | voted for the bill but opposed the closure (see note) | 2 of 2 |
| Nationals | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| One Nation | Consistently against | 2 of 2 |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Did not vote | 0 of 2 |
The votes behind this question
Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.
30 May 2024 · Legislative Assembly
Sustainable Forests (Timber) Repeal Bill 2024
- Question put
- Question — That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 53, Noes 24.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Assembly reasoned amendment moved by Emma Kealy; the question was whether to keep the words "be now read a second time". Aye = reject the amendment (let the bill proceed); agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 49 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 16 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 8 | No |
Every name (Ayes 53, Noes 24) in the vote of 30 May 2024
Ayes (53)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Sam Hibbins, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Dylan Wight, Belinda Wilson, Gabrielle de Vietri
Noes (24)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Kim O'Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 73 to 75 (LA-60-075-01)
20 June 2024 · Legislative Council
Sustainable Forests (Timber) Repeal Bill 2024
- Question put
- Question — That the reasoned amendment moved by Melina Bath be agreed to — put.
- Result
- Question negatived. Ayes 14, Noes 22.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Council reasoned amendment moved by Melina Bath to stop the bill proceeding. Aye = support the amendment (oppose the bill now); agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 0 | 1 | No |
| Greens | 0 | 4 | No |
| Labor | 0 | 14 | No |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 11 | 0 | Aye |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
Independents, each counted on their own: Moira Deeming (Aye)
Every name (Ayes 14, Noes 22) in the vote of 20 June 2024
Ayes (14)
Melina Bath, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Noes (22)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Samantha Ratnam, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Sheena Watt
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 71, 72 and 73 (LC-60-073-03)
20 June 2024 · Legislative Council
Sustainable Forests (Timber) Repeal Bill 2024
- Question put
- Jaclyn Symes moved, That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 20, Noes 12.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 12 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 9 | No |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 0 | 1 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
Independents, each counted on their own: Moira Deeming (No)
Every name (Ayes 20, Noes 12) in the vote of 20 June 2024
Ayes (20)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Samantha Ratnam, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Sonja Terpstra, Sheena Watt
Noes (12)
Melina Bath, Georgie Crozier, Moira Deeming, Ann-Marie Hermans, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 71, 72 and 73 (LC-60-073-04)
Sources
- EM
- Second reading (Steve Dimopoulos (Minister for Environment), 2024-05-01)
- Opposition (Emma Kealy, 2024-05-29)
- Crossbench (Ellen Sandell, GRN)
- Crossbench (Sarah Mansfield, GRN)
- News: ABC News (2024-03-13); ABC News (2024-08-08); AAP (2023-05-23)
- Full list: Sources tab (21 items).
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