10 December 2021
Victorian Native Forestry vindicated as High Court knocks out appeal
Today the High Court did not grant special leave for Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum Inc to appeal the Full Court of the Federal Court’s decision of 10 May 2021.
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said that today’s decision brings this long running lawfare to an end and provides certainty to the Victorian native forestry industry.
“The Morrison Government is fully committed to forestry in all its forms, including native, and today’s decision is a message to the Victorian Government that they should back the industry instead of shutting it down,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.
“Labor governments across Australia need to accept today’s High Court decision, follow the science and reverse their decisions to shut down this critical part of the forestry industry.
“Similarly the Federal opposition must now call on their state Labor counterparts to reverse their decision or it will be clear that their support for industry is nothing more than words.
“Only the Morrison Government backs in our foresters and timber workers, and will stand shoulder to shoulder with the industry, their families, and regional communities.”