NZ, Australia to work together on illegal logging

Photo / Thinkstock

Australia and New Zealand have signed a pledge to work together to stamp out illegal logging.

Federal Forestry Minister Joe Ludwig joined his New Zealand counterpart, associate primary industry minister Nathan Guy, in Canberra on Tuesday, during forestry talks at Parliament House.

A memorandum of understanding on combating illegal logging was signed, committing the two countries to work together to combat the practice.

The agreement also promotes sustainable forest management.

Legislation outlawing the importing of illegally-logged timber into Australia passed the House of Representatives on Monday.

It requires all timber products sold in Australia to be sourced from legally harvested wood.

It will soon be introduced to the Senate.

Greens Leader Christine Milne says it is a step in the right direction, but the Greens will try to pass amendments to the legislation in the Senate, including tightening the definition of illegal logging, ABC radio reported.

If those amendments don't succeed, Senator Milne said the Greens would vote with the government to pass the legislation.