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The Victorian Greens have welcomed news that the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) will investigate the Labor Government’s $875 million in native timber transition payouts, which the Greens say should have gone to support workers into sustainable jobs but are alleged to have been exploited to log Tasmanian native forests.

In their 2025-26 annual plan tabled yesterday, VAGO announced that an audit of Victoria’s Forestry Transition Program will provide transparency on whether funds used to transition the timber industry from native timber logging have been used appropriately.

The news comes after Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, referred allegations of misused funds to VAGO in March 2024.

Emphasising the importance of supporting former forestry workers into sustainable jobs – such as plantation timber, disaster prevention and reforestation – Ms Sandell raised allegations that funds from the program instead went to companies that moved to native forest logging in Tasmania, then shipped native timber back to Victorian mills for processing.

Since May 2023, there have been several reports of native timber being shipped to Victorian timber mills via the Spirit on Tasmania and Searoad Mersey.

Ms Sandell said the audit is important because Victorian taxpayer funds should not be used to destroy ancient native forests in Tasmania. Former Tasmanian state MP for Lyons John Tucker alleged in July 2023 that Victorian companies had begun undercutting Tasmanian contractors and forcing them out of business.

In May 2023 the Victorian Labor Government announced an additional $200 million to help transition timber workers out of native forest logging by the end of that year, bringing targeted support since a 2019, long-term package to more than $875 million (while additional programs put the final figure at $1.5 billion).

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:

“Make no mistake, the Greens agree with supporting forestry workers through this transition, but this Victorian taxpayer money was not supposed to be taken and used to continue to destroy native forests in another state.

“Victorian Labor gave $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to the logging industry to stop logging in Victoria – it is outrageous if that money has just been taken and used to destroy ancient forests in Tasmania and then ship the logs back to Victoria.”

More than 30 forest defenders have been escorted from Orara State Forest this morning as the NSW Police move in to guard loggers from peaceful members of the community who are determined to prevent more extinction logging. The latest show of force from the NSW Police caused most community members to voluntarily leave the forest, although some community members were later issued with fines despite complying with directions.

Sue Higginson, MLC:

“The extinction logging in Orara State Forest will continue today after the NSW Police moved in, threatening to arrest and imprison some 30 peaceful members of the community who were on public land.”

“It is incredibly telling, that the state-owned Forestry Corporation must deploy armed police on public land so that they can continue their profitless destruction of our public native forests. It’s sickening that this forest is now being destroyed, under police guard given it is part of the promised Great Koala National Park.”

“That this logging will continue today under martial law should be cold comfort to the Forestry Corporation and Premier Chris Minns with more and more members of the community joining the opposition to their often illegal native forest logging.”

“It is a tremendous credit to the peaceful forest defenders that they continue to put their lives on hold and their bodies on the line to protect these natural treasures from wanton destruction by the Forestry Corporation, and it is a crying shame that the Police are misleading these community members and taking punitive actions even where official directions have been complied with.”

“What has happened in Orara State Forest today is state violence against a peaceful community. The NSW Police are more interested in protecting a criminal corporation than they are in protecting the community from having their natural spaces destroyed for no good reason.”

“The Police cannot arrest their way out of this, the community will continue to stand up for the forests. What we all need now, is for the Minns Labor Government to take a stand and end the profitless logging of our public native forests,” Ms Higginson said.

Thursday 19 June, the Supreme Court of NSW will hear the case of Josh Lees, on behalf of Palestine Action Group, to challenge the constitutional validity of the most recent anti-protest laws passed under the NSW Minns Labor Government earlier this year.

Lees will be represented by barristers Craig Lenehan SC, Felicity Graham, Thomas Wood, and O’Briens Solicitors.

Plaintiff Josh Lees will speak to press alongside spokespeople from previously successful anti-protest challenges, including Rising Tide, and civil society organisations.

Plaintiff Josh Lees, PAG:

“Chris Minns’ anti-protest laws are based on lies, as the Minns Government exploited the Dural caravan hoax to rush them through while keeping the public and the parliament in the dark about the reality of this hoax. He exacerbated and exploited community fears to try to silence our protest movement against the genocide in Gaza.”

“The right to protest is a fundamental democratic right, and these laws are an unconstitutional attack on those fundamental rights. They must be overturned and repealed.”

Amal Nassar, PAG:

“As a Palestinian activist, I am deeply disturbed by the government’s increasingly authoritarian response to peaceful protest. From day one, our rallies have been unfairly targeted, surveilled, and suppressed, while the atrocities in Gaza escalate with horrifying intensity.”

Sue Higginson, Greens MLC:

“The draconian anti-protest laws in NSW are a blight on our democracy. Successive Governments have acted to criminalise peaceful assembly and protest, the latest of which were introduced by the Minns Labor Government under a shadow of lies told to the community about the true nature of the Dural caravan hoax.”

“The constitutional challenge to these harsh and undemocratic laws is a critical step in the defence of democracy in NSW. We have already seen the Supreme Court rule some anti-protest laws to be unconstitutional in 2023, rather than listening to that decision, the Minns Labor Government has continued to target legitimate protests in a clear attempt to suppress the voices of the community.”

“It is a disgrace, that the NSW Labor Party is continuing the work of the former Liberal Government, and is punishing the NSW community for speaking out against injustice and genocide.”

Timothy Roberts, President of NSW CCL:

“The people of NSW deserve a responsible government that is not reckless with their democratic rights and in the drafting of legislation. We have Chris Minns and a government that rushed through legislation by fear-mongering about protest.”

Quotes attributable to Dr Max Kaiser, Executive Officer, Jewish Council:

“These laws were sold as protecting Jewish communities and places of worship—but they do nothing of the sort. Using antisemitism as a cover to criminalise protest is cynical and dangerous. We reject this misuse of our identity and support the legal challenge to restore basic democratic rights.”

Plaintiff Alexa Stewart, Rising Tide 2024 challenge:

“Rising Tide’s Supreme Court challenge overturned an illegal exclusion zone placed by the Minns government on the entirety of Newcastle harbour last November, to attempt to prevent a peaceful protest advocating for a safe climate and funding for our regions.”

“Time and time again, Chris Minns has tried to arrest his way out of legitimate protest action. It’s a failing strategy.”

The Australian Government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependants and suspended operations at our Embassy in Tehran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran.

Australia’s Ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the Australian Government’s response to this crisis.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossing, to support Australians departing Iran.

We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe. Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.

We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries. At this stage, our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.

DFAT will also continue to provide support through the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre, direct contact with Australian citizens who have registered on our crisis portal and updates to travel advice.

The suspension of Embassy operations is consistent with steps taken by other countries, including New Zealand and Switzerland.

Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance should call the Australian Government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 (in Australia).

The Greens have welcomed the holding of a round table with First Nations Ministers and the Coalition of the Peaks today, and called on the federal government to make First Nations justice a priority in the 48th parliament.

Earlier this week the NT government scrapped an independent review into systemic racism, just weeks after refusing to conduct an independent investigation into the death of Kumanjayi White in police custody. 

Larissa Waters, Australian Greens leader and spokesperson on First Nations Justice

“It’s clear from the events of recent weeks that First Nations justice must be an urgent priority of the 48th parliament, and the Greens are ready to work with Labor to get outcomes,” Greens Leader Larissa Waters said on Friday.

“There have already been 13 Aboriginal deaths in custody this year. Recommendations from the 34 year old Deaths in Custody report remain unfulfilled, and opportunities to investigate structural racism in the justice system have been abandoned, but this parliament presents a real opportunity to take action.

“No child should be locked up in a jail, and First Nations children are 29 times as likely as non-indigenous young people to be in detention. Raising the age of criminal responsibility is  a long-held Greens position, and a key measure towards closing the gap.

“If the government is serious about closing the gap in health, education and incarceration rates, it’s time to actually do what First Nations people have been asking of us for decades.

“Healing starts with telling the truth and the Greens continue to call on the government to take urgent tangible steps towards Truth and Treaty in the 48th parliament.

“It’s time to fund real action on closing the gap and properly resource community led solutions, and the Greens are ready to work with Labor to get it done.”