The Australia Institute surveyed voters about their views on banning native forest logging, ahead of the issue being discussed at Labor’s National Conference in Brisbane this week – more than 300 ALP branches have reportedly supported a motion to end native forest logging.

Key Findings

• Seven in 10 Australians (69%) support extending native forest logging bans to New South Wales and Tasmania.
• A majority of voters for each political party support an end to native forest logging in New South Wales and Tasmania.
• Three in four Labor voters (75%) and three in five Coalition voters (58%) support the policy.
• Support is highest among Greens voters (85%) and weakest among One Nation voters (57%).
• A majority of Australians in every age group support ending native forest logging in New South Wales and Tasmania.
• Support is highest among young Australians, aged 18 to 29, (79%) and lowest among older Australians aged 60 and above (61%).

“After the Western Australian and Victorian governments committed to ending native forest logging by the end of the year, Australian Institute research shows voters now want to see those bans extended to New South Wales and Tasmania as well,” said Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director of the Australia Institute.

“The continued logging of Australia’s native forests is not only deeply damaging to the climate and native plants and animals, it is unpopular among Australian voters and that is especially true among supporters of the Labor Party.

“These results show the time is right for Labor’s National Conference to amend its platform to support an end to native forest logging nationwide.”

“We are in the midst of a climate crisis and ending native forest logging makes sense from a social, environmental, economic and biodiversity perspective.

“Voters of all ages support Tasmanian and New South Wales joining Western Australia and Victoria to end native forest logging,” said Ms Bennett.