Bill
Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024
passed, as at 2024-09-17. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2024-03-27
- second reading — 2024-03-27
- second reading — 2024-05-15
- other — 2024-05-15
- second reading — 2024-05-16
- second reading — 2024-05-28
- other — 2024-05-29
- second reading — 2024-05-29
- committee — 2024-05-29
- third reading — 2024-05-29
- introduced — 2024-06-26
- second reading — 2024-06-26
- second reading — 2024-08-22
- second reading — 2024-09-09
- second reading — 2024-09-09
- committee — 2024-09-09
- third reading — 2024-09-09
- passed — 2024-09-09
- royal assent — 2024-09-17
Divisions
- Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024 - Report from Federation Chamber - End native forest logging — 2024-05-29, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 11, noes 102
- Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Ending Native Forest Logging Bill 2023 — 2024-09-09, Senate: negative, ayes 12, noes 28
- Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Native forests — 2024-09-09, Senate: negative, ayes 12, noes 27
- The majority voted against an [amendment](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2024-09-09.46.1) introduced by Tasmanian Senator [Nick McKim](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/tasmania/nick_mckim) (Greens), which means it failed. ### Amendment text > *(1) Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 29), after item 4, insert:* > >> *4A Section 7 (definition of illegally logged )* >> >> *Repeal the definition, substitute:* >> >> *illegally logged, in relation to timber, means authorised for harvest, harvested, processed, or transported in contravention of laws, including laws related to:* >> >>> *(a) the protection of plants;* >>> >>> *(b) the protection of the environment;* >>> >>> *(c) human rights;* >>> >>> *(d) bribery;* >>> >>> *(e) money laundering;* >>> >>> *(f) tax evasion;* >>> >>> *(g) fraud; or* >>> >>> *(h) other financial crimes;* >>> >>> *in the place (whether or not in Australia) where the timber is to be harvested, or was harvested, transported or processed.* > > *(2) Schedule 1, page 13 (after line 3), after item 21, insert:* > >> *21A Subparagraph 14(3)(a)(iii)* >> >> *Omit "harvested", substitute "authorised for harvest, harvested, processed, or transported".* > > *(3) Schedule 1, page 20 (after line 13), after item 37, insert:* > >> *37A Subparagraph 18(3)(a)(iii)* >> >> *Omit "harvested", substitute "authorised for harvest, harvested, processed, or transported".* > > *(4) Schedule 1, item 27, page 33 (line 15), omit "harvested", substitute "authorised for harvest, harvested, processed, or transported".* — 2024-09-09, Senate: negative, ayes 12, noes 28
- Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024 - in Committee - Supplying illegally logged timber — 2024-09-09, Senate: negative, ayes 12, noes 31
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2024-03-27.
The bill would update Australia's laws against illegal timber to make it harder for illegally harvested wood to enter the country and to support legal trade.
It would give regulators more enforcement options, including new strict liability offences, civil penalties for false information, and powers to test timber samples for their species and origin.
The bill would also require a review of the law's operation within five years of the changes starting, and allow the minister to make rules that can be updated as needed.
- Consolidates offences and civil penalties from the regulation into the main Act for clarity.
- Adds strict liability offences that can be handled through infringement notices.
- Extends powers to monitor, investigate, and test regulated timber products, including under biosecurity and customs controls.
- Requires importers and processors to give notice when regulated timber products arrive or are processed.
- Allows the department secretary to demand information or audits to check compliance with due diligence.
- Authorises publication of contravention details on the department's website and protects officials from civil proceedings when exercising powers.
Timber importers, processors of raw logs, and businesses dealing with regulated timber products would be affected, as well as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the minister.
Sources
em
em revised
em revised
billhome
frl act