The Wire

The Federal Government has announced plans to criminalize the importation and sale of illegally logged timber in Australia. It echoes a commitment made by Labor during the 2007 election campaign. Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Vietnam and China are all implicated in the illegal felling of native forests. An estimated 10 percent of annual Australian timber imports are illegal product. Some economists have rallied against what they consider a reintroduction of trade barriers, and say consumers will suffer at the checkouts. Green groups have joined Australian industries in calling on the Coalition to support the policy.