Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Sustainable Forests (Timber) Repeal Bill 2024

Introduction and first reading

Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:10): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to repeal the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004, to abolish VicForests, to amend the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987 and the Forests Act 1958 in relation to forest management and to consequentially amend other acts and for other purposes.

Motion agreed to.

James NEWBURY (Brighton) (12:11): I seek a brief explanation of the bill.

Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:11): In summary, the bill implements priority legislative reforms to support the government’s decision to abolish VicForests and end commercial native timber harvesting in state forests. The bill will do so by repealing the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 to remove the framework authorising commercial native timber harvesting under the act and abolish VicForests and making relevant amendments to the Forests Act 1958 and the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987 to preserve key tools that support regulation and forest management.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.