Australia's House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill, according to Radio Australia. The bill aims to restrict commerce in illegally logged timber from abroad and contains "due diligence" provisions, much like the U.S. Lacey Act, and it has provisions to restrict the processing of domestically grown logs that have been illegally sourced.
Australia's House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill, according to Radio Australia. The bill aims to restrict commerce in illegally logged timber from abroad and contains "due diligence" provisions, much like the U.S. Lacey Act, and it has provisions to restrict the processing of domestically grown logs that have been illegally sourced.
The bill is supported by the Australian Greens party; however, certain House members have raised concerns that the bill could damage relations with Australia's neighbors like Indonesia and New Zealand, and that the bill could violate rules set by the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to the Herald Sun.
There is no WTO precedent involving illegal products; however, Chatham House, a London-based think tank, recently wrote that Australia's bill "should be" compatible with the WTO policies.
Dick Adams, a member of Australia's Labor Party representing central Tasmania, said the Greens party was being selfish and that the bill would hurt his state's forestry industry. Jamie Briggs, a member of the Liberal Party of Australia, said the bill was a "Green crusade through trade policy."
Now the bill goes to Australia's Senate for consideration where, as Radio Australia reported, it is likely to pass with the support of the Greens Party.
