21 August 2012
The Australian Federal Government has begun a crackdown on illegal logging with its legislation being carried by the lower house of parliament. The bill bans the import and sale of any wooden products which contain illegally logged timber. Liberal MP Dan Tehan said consultation around the bill had been "nothing short of a disgrace" and it had failed to take into account the interests of Australia's neighbours.Instead, the government was telling other countries what to do and causing grave damage to international relations.
"We are telling them how to suck eggs, imposing our views on them, telling them that you should do it our way," he told parliament on Monday. "How would we like it in reverse?"
Parliamentary secretary for forestry Sid Sidebottom said in fact the government had held "meeting after meeting" with trading partners to discuss the matter.
He said other countries like the United States had already made similar restrictions on timber importations and Australia would get left behind if the law did not pass.
The Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 will now proceed to the Senate.
The Australian Greens are expected to try and amend it further in that chamber.
Source: Sky News, Australia. To read the full story, click here.