NSW Government misuse of carbon scheme while abandoning koalas and workers for green ideology and power

• NSW Government intends to misuse carbon scheme

• State forests already provide equal or better outcomes for koalas

• Forestry and timber workers being sold out for Labor green ideology

• Australian Government must be held accountable for sham method

The peak state body for Queensland’s timber industry has called out the NSW Government’s announcement to declare a Great Koala National Park and rely on a native forest carbon method to fund it as a blatant misuse of the national emissions reduction scheme.

Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said “The proposed carbon method put forward by the NSW Government, to bankroll its own park proposal, fails on so many levels it defies credibility and flies in the face of the integrity standards set by the Australian Government for the national scheme.”

“First, it fails on the additionality test, where the conversion of state forest to parks has been demonstrably common practice by state governments over many decades in the absence of a carbon credit.”

“Second, it fails on the scale test, where the Queensland Government has written to the Australian Government making it clear they do not support this method and recognise the multiple benefits including timber production, recreation and ecosystem services from existing state forests as part of their new timber plan.”

‘Third, it fails to address the science on superior long term abatement from well-managed forests with sustainable timber harvest and substitution of emission intensive materials with wood products. In other words, the NSW method is likely to lead to lower overall abatement compared to the baseline of continuing state forest management,” said Mr Stephens.

“There are also a myriad of other flawed design and measurement issues contained in the method, generating significant bias and uncertainty over the perceived carbon benefits, which should have triggered multiple red flags through the method prioritisation process.”

These issues are outlined in the Timber Queensland submission to the NSW Government consultation process. A copy of the submission can be found here.

“The fact that the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage are yet to respond to the submissions received from their consultation in July suggests stonewalling given widespread critique of the method.”

“Equally concerning is the potential wasteful use of carbon credits to fund the park where this is intended as a one-off hit for a political purpose with no additionality. This is market distortion at the expense of other genuine abatement. Any reputable Treasurer or economist should see this as deliberate gaming of the scheme and a misuse of significant public funds.”

“This decision from the Minns Government comes straight out of the playbook of the Labor left to restrict native forestry for Greens preferences to maintain power. However, it is clear there has now been significant over-reach in trying to push through a dodgy carbon method in addition to an ideological decision to create an unnecessary park to protect koala populations.”

“Decades of scientific research from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, as well as recent work conducted as part of the park assessment, has shown no difference between koala numbers in state forests and national parks. In fact, there are clear examples of declines in koala numbers following conversion to parks as in the case of the Pilliga Forest.”

“It is clear that the science and experience from well managed state forests is being ignored for a preservation ideology to the detriment of long-term koala populations. The key threats to koalas are disease, land clearing, wild dogs and road accidents.”

“This decision will also have devastating impacts on native hardwood businesses and regional jobs. The sincerity of the Labor left with support packages must be questioned when there is no credible public policy need to cease sustainable timber production in these forests.”

“To the contrary, there is a definitive need for a carbon method that encourages forest thinning and sustainable timber harvesting as a tool to improve tree growth and productivity, forest health and long-term carbon outcomes in many public and private native forests. This is particularly the case in Queensland with many overstocked private forests that can benefit from improved active management,” Mr Stephens said.

“The NSW method has no place in the scheme and should be withdrawn.”

“Timber Queensland is calling for a public inquiry into the development of the NSW method, including the participation of the Australian Government and related parties, given serious concerns over the integrity of the method and the politically motivated process.”

Timber Queensland have raised these concerns since January 2025.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Clarissa Brandt, Strategic Relations & Communications Manager, 0416 350 328, clarissa@timberqueensland.com.au

FURTHER INFORMATION

Timber Queensland Media release Proposed native forest carbon method raises more questions than answers 16 January 2025

Download the media release

11.09.25 NSW Government misuse of carbon scheme while abandoning koalas and workers for gr

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