Government infighting over old growth forest logging revealed in 1995 cabinet papers

Then primary industries minister tried to renew 11 woodchip export licences against environment department’s advice

In January 1995 the Keating government’s attempts to curtail logging in old growth forests ran into fierce opposition when timber trucks blockaded Parliament House, ringing the building for days.

The government had established the regional forest policy in 1992, in a bid to balance environmental preservation with jobs in the timber industry. Its aim was to preserve high-value native old growth forests but allow logging in less valuable industries and to encourage value-adding, rather than just exporting raw woodchips.

Cabinet records for 1994 and 1995 held by the National Archives of Australia are accessible from 1 January 2018. Copies of 245 cabinet records from 1994 and 1995 have been made available to the media under embargo. The Guardian’s reports are based on these. Some were redacted due to national security concerns.

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