In response to concerns that a court case could halt native forest logging in northern New South Wales, the Albanese government developed plans to bypass federal environment laws in case of an adverse decision, as shown in documents obtained through freedom of information. The government, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, worked closely with the NSW government to ensure logging could continue in the event of a legal challenge and to manage potential tensions between loggers and environmental groups.
The government’s contingency plans were not ultimately required, as it emerged victorious in the court case. Justice Melissa Perry ruled in the Federal Court in 2024 that the North East Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) was valid, despite its 2018 amendment without fresh scientific assessments on the impact on threatened species.
If the government had lost the court case, it could have resulted in a stop to logging, requiring extensive reassessments of forest areas under federal environmental laws. The government feared that such a situation might prompt environmentalists to demand a cessation of logging activities. Officials also advised that around 60% of NSW’s high-grade sawlogs are extracted from the north-eastern forests, and halting operations could result in timber shortages.
Environmental groups, such as the North East Forest Alliance, challenged the 2018 RFA amendment, asserting that it did not sufficiently protect environmental values and arguing that the agreement did not align with the original intention of the RFA Act. The group contended that the agreement did not properly assess the impact on the environment, including the areas affected by old-growth, wilderness, endangered species, and world heritage values.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/24/albanese-government-plotted-to-maintain-native-forest-logging-in-nsw-if-court-battle-was-lost-documents-show
