Fines or Jail for Entering Forestry Safety Zones or Blocking Work
Forestry Amendment (Timber Harvesting Safety Zones) Bill 2023
Private Member's BillLegislative Council
Legislative Assembly
Assent
Topics
criminal penalties forestry forestry management forestry operations land access land management public safety timber harvesting
Introduced by: Mark Banasiak MLC (SFFP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
People who are not allowed in a timber harvesting safety zone can be fined up to 60 penalty units (2026: $6,600) for entering or staying in the zone.
Authorised officers can tell people to leave a timber harvesting safety zone; if the person does not leave, the officer can remove them.
People who enter a timber harvesting safety zone after being told not to (or breaking a ban on re-entering a zone or entering other safety zones) can be fined up to 120 penalty units (2026: $13,200) or face up to 12 months jail, or both.
People who are not allowed in a timber harvesting safety zone can be fined up to 60 penalty units (2026: $6,600) for carrying items that could block or interfere with forestry work.
Anyone who blocks or interferes with timber harvesting or forestry work in a safety zone can be fined up to 120 penalty units (2026: $13,200) or face up to 12 months jail, or both.
People who encourage others to block or interfere with timber harvesting in a safety zone can be fined up to 100 penalty units (2026: $11,000) or face up to 12 months jail; companies or other entities can be fined up to 600 penalty units (2026: $66,000).
People who are not allowed in a timber harvesting safety zone can be fined up to 60 penalty units (2026: $6,600) for damaging or removing safety signs, fences, or barriers.
People can be fined up to 60 penalty units (2026: $6,600) for letting a dog enter a timber harvesting safety zone.
News articles and press releases
Forestry Amendment (Timber Harvesting Safety Zones) Bill 2023
The Hon. MARK BANASIAK — 2023-08-02
The bill sets out the definition of a timber harvesting safety zone as an area specified on a notice under new section 69ZC and includes the roads within that zone and the land within 150 metres of a zone boundary. Notice is required to be given in or near the safety zone’s entry points, on roads and along boundaries.