The Greens are calling on the Victorian Labor government to step in to halt logging by its commercial logging arm VicForests, which has moved in to log key sections of native forest near Strathbogie in Victoria’s north-east.

The announcement today to renew the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) in Tasmania for another 20 years demonstrates just how short-sighted and irresponsible state and federal governments around the country are, say the Australian Greens.

“Regional Forest Agreements must be scrapped,” said Senator Janet Rice, Greens spokesperson for forests. “I have given notice in the Senate this week of my intention to introduce legislation to repeal the RFA legislation.”

The Greens have today given notice of their intention to introduce a bill to repeal the Regional Forest Agreements Act, ahead of the imminent expiry of the 20-year Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs), starting with the Tasmanian RFA which is due to expire this year.

The Greens want to scrap these logging laws, which allow for the destruction of our native forests and which are preventing us from moving our wood products industries to sustainably managed plantation sources.

The Greens have condemned the Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce’s blundering attempt to wade in to Victorian forest issues, saying these type of short-sighted policy ideas have led to the Heyfield mill crisis.

“Barnaby’s thought bubbles on the Heyfield mill are not helping workers who are facing unemployment or the threatened species facing extinction,” said Senator Janet Rice, Greens federal spokesperson for Forests.