The Australia Institute Tasmania Director Eloise Carr said Victoria’s decision to bring forward its native logging ban from 2030 was well overdue, and urged Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff to end the economically and environmentally unsustainable industry.

“Tasmania has been handed a golden opportunity to protect its native forests by closing the curtain on this economically and environmentally unsustainable industry,” Ms Carr said.

“Australia Institute research over many years has highlighted the financial and economic losses of native forestry. The sector is a relatively small employer, heavily subsidised by the taxpayer and it causes climate change and habitat loss.”

Logging reduces carbon storage, threatens native species and increases fire hazard as Australia heads into another El Nino, which brings renewed bushfire risk after years of heavy rain.

“The end of native forest logging is long overdue and Tasmania’s environment cannot afford the State Government delaying the inevitable end of an industry well past its use-by date,” Ms Carr said.

“With Victoria today bringing forward its native forest logging ban to 2024, Tasmania and NSW are the only states dragging the chain,” Ms Carr said.

“If the Tasmanian Government ended native forest logging it would not just good environmental policy but good economic policy.”