---
title: Labor’s environmental arm pushes for forestry policy changes
description: Labor’s environmental arm is pushing for policy changes that would end native forest logging whilst ensuring the country gets the timber it needs.
---

[The Canopy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)

# [Labor’s environmental arm pushes for forestry policy changes](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/labors-environmental-arm-pushes-for-forestry-policy-changes)

 Written by [Greenpeace Australia Pacific](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/author/greenpeace-australia-pacific) | Wednesday, 26 July 2023

More than 300 Labor branches have backed a push by the party’s environmental arm for the Albanese government to fund an expanded, publicly owned plantation industry to ensure the country gets the timber it needs and end native forest logging.

The surface ocean temperature in and around the Florida Keys in the United States soared to typical hot tub levels this week. This comes amid recent warnings from global weather monitors about the dangerous impact of warming waters on ecosystems and extreme weather events.

More than 50 pilot whales have died after stranding themselves on a beach in Western Australia, but authorities said Wednesday that they were "optimistic" that the other 45 whales could survive.

**Top stories:**

[Labor push for publicly owned plantations to end native forest logging](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/26/labor-push-for-publicly-owned-plantations-to-end-native-forest-logging)  
Labor’s environment lobby group wants forestry policy focused on restoring native forests, arguing they have more value as a carbon and biodiversity sink.

[Oceans have hit the same temperatures as hot tubs in this part of the world](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Foceans-have-hit-the-same-temperatures-as-hot-tubs-in-this-part-of-the-world%2Fi0h5p1dj7&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=JWIZL_jsUESqDKBjr5nBJ1ha7jQ&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5zYnMuY29tLmF1In0.-HdjYjAJhCRb2qk3QylcbtoulfxN5wOfqfnpSX_YMCXkgEGwudGd9JgNTKjJlz7f0oZHFWS5EqZHFaON6uCkHw)Global sea temperatures have reached monthly record highs since May, with experts warning about the dangerous impact on ecosystems.

[Rescuers 'optimistic' for surviving stranded whales in Australia](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fbreaking-news%2Frescuers-optimistic-for-surviving-stranded-whales-in-australia%2Fnews-story%2F8e8010b00429cc9bf647e7678b1e04c7&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=ymz2PcYaP9sjies0Ax76KZ9B0mI&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdSJ9._9eIk96tIPNTjXwzMngn8CFnjBniEWEG71sNjH2GiqhhnqHvoch0hnhg2EgYcYnFoZnfeMpFAgXVacvMtxi1Pg)  
More than 50 pilot whales died after stranding themselves on a beach in Western Australia, but authorities said Wednesday they were "optimistic" that the other 45 whales could survive.

[Tourists have acted as if the climate crisis isn't happening. This year will force change](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Ftourists-flock-to-the-mediterranean-as-if-the-climate-crisis-isnt-happening-this-years-heat-and-fire-will-force-change%2Fmh2xg3rqu&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=PWVsP7Phk1_O0UIGVz_bM4MkEWY&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5zYnMuY29tLmF1In0.-HdjYjAJhCRb2qk3QylcbtoulfxN5wOfqfnpSX_YMCXkgEGwudGd9JgNTKjJlz7f0oZHFWS5EqZHFaON6uCkHw)The fires sweeping through the Greek islands of Rhodes and Corfu are showing us that our favourite holiday destinations are no longer safe from climate change.

[6.4-Sigma Event: Antarctic Sea Ice Hits Lowest Point Since Official Records Began](https://www.sciencealert.com/6-4-sigma-event-antarctic-sea-ice-hits-lowest-point-since-official-records-began)  
Compared to the extent of winter sea ice before 2010, the ocean is now missing about 2.6 million square kilometres of ice – almost four times the size of Texas.

[Townsville’s Magnetic Island opens new mobile turtle treatment facility](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fnews%2Ftownsville%2Ftownsvilles-magnetic-island-opens-new-mobile-turtle-treatment-facility%2Fnews-story%2Fb7ec5fa450ac26446e00bf6bbb8b26ee&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=nfrQGb10DeFbHxKno1RfIm3rfqI&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5oZXJhbGRzdW4uY29tLmF1In0.tyvzxwnT4YHYtOKwk-QXfhLIB-5fakWVeDsIsFbN-UKoLJR_SD3ZgVClMjrILbZY1pK5qxxShDGuqS6LG4A-kA)  
Six out of seven of the world’s sea turtle species call Townsville home. A new Magnetic Island turtle treatment facility is saving them from potential extinction.

[View full post](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/labors-environmental-arm-pushes-for-forestry-policy-changes)

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