The law is the only recourse when government doesn't listen to the people

The Federal Court ruling that environmental laws were breached by the Victorian government owned timber company VicForests, logging, and thus destroying sections of the Central Highlands inhabited by the critically endangered Leadbeater's possum. Thus curtailing at least one of iniquitous practices and non compliance of the the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 [EPBC] by the Andrews government, is a great result. Demonstrating that cowboy industries, even if backed by government ownership; are not beyond the reach, or above the law.

This ruling brought about by the legal services of the Environmental Justice Australia work, instigated by the friends of Leadbeater's Possum and the Wilderness Society in Victoria, is so important; that it will be something to celebrate by all thinking people for decades, possibly centuries to come.

VicForests have criminally logged so much forest that they didn't have permission to or even look at over the years. Yet it seemed that state government arm thought they could log anywhere with impunity. That they often overreached their governmental permissions to engage in these iniquitous activity have often been cited, and required they be taken to task.

This from Katy Gallagher on Thursday, 11 June 2020:

[quote]

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Hansard source

Labor won't be supporting this motion. We believe issuing a running commentary—and we acknowledge the Greens have drafted this motion in a way that forces that—on court decisions is not how you protect the environment or ensure certainty in regional employment. It's reckless for the Greens to claim that the decision sets an important legal precedent. Labor support the social, economic and environmental benefits that flow from sustainable management of our native forests and support regional forest agreements. We are committed to ecologically sustainable development within the forestry industry. Furthermore, the EPBC Act is under review, and we shouldn't pre-empt it. Labor support the protection of threatened species, and we know this government isn't doing enough. The motion does nothing to address the key challenges we as a nation need to confront on climate action, protecting our environment and threatened species. For that we need real change, not motions which seek to wedge the Labor Party, which is what the Greens excel at.

[end quote]

Is this to be read that curbing logging of habitat of threatened species will not benefit the environment?

It also appears to ignore that the law is the only way that people, the voters can get the governments attention and actually have them do as the voters want, and to stop government from riding roughshod over the will of the people.

Regional forest agreements are the worst kind of legalised vandalism to our flora and fauna that the government can devise. The current review of the EPBC is actually trying to dilute and reduce or eliminate the checks and balances that protect our flora, fauna and landscape. It only requires reading of the guidelines to see this is why it was instigated in the first place.

VicForest structure should be dismantled, and a new entity created that is more aware of wildlife and flora ensuring these are not just an afterthought; but front and centre of management. We are no longer new in a country and know now it is only ours by right, or ours alone. We must acknowledge and make allowance for many different species that also share this land with us and whom the first nation people respected and cherished and allowed to thrive, in many different ways.

This court decision is so right at every level, and so long has it been required, that one wonders why it took so much time to come about?

There can be no complacency now. Every Australian states wildlife carers, conservationists and environmentalists must now strike while the iron is hot, taking advantage of the population of Australia's knowledge of what is happening in our forests, to our wildlife and landscapes since the fires. Making certain the laissez fair attitude of the extractive industries make the changes that that will ensure our forests, landscapes, wildlife and well being are preserved for many generations to come.

A great Joy and a new beginning

The slap on the wrist to, and curtailing of iniquitous practices and non compliance of the Andrews government through the actions of VicForests; is a great result. Demonstrating that cowboy industries, even if backed by government ownership; are not beyond the reach or or above the law.

This ruling brought about by the legal services of the Environmental Justice Australia work, instigated by the friends of Leadbeater's Possum and the Wilderness Society in Victoria, is so important; that it will be something to celebrate by all thinking people for decades, possibly centuries to come.

VicForests have criminally logged so much forest that they didn't have permission to or even look at. Yet it seemed that state government arm thought they could log anywhere with impunity. That they often overreached their governmental permissions to engage in these iniquitous activity have often been cited, and required they be taken to task,

Ideally the whole VicForest structure should be dismantled and a new entity created that is more aware of wildlife and flora and that it should not be just an afterthought; but front and centre of management. We are no longer new in a country that is ours by right, or alone. We must acknowledge and make allowance for many different species that also share this land with us and whom the first nation people respected and cherished and allowed to thrive, in many different ways.

This decision is so right at every level, and so long has it been required, that one wonders why it took so much time to come about?

There can be no complacency now. Every Australian states wildlife carers, conservationists and environmentalists must now strike while the iron is hot, taking advantage of the population of Australia's knowledge of what is happening in our forests, to our wildlife and our landscapes. Making certain the laissez fair attitude of the extractive industries make the changes that that will ensure our forests, landscapes, wildlife and well being are preserved for many generations hence.