A New South Wales Greens MP has urged her federal colleagues to oppose a motion led by the Nationals seeking to block a carbon credit regulation that would enable the NSW government to receive millions of dollars in carbon credits for establishing a koala national park. The motion, which targets a carbon credit method allowing state governments to earn credits by protecting native forests previously slated for logging, is scheduled for a Senate vote next week.
Sue Higginson, a former lawyer and environmental campaigner now serving in the NSW upper house, broke ranks within her party by detailing the dispute that has divided Greens members and environmental groups. Higginson initially opposed the carbon credit method, known as the "improved native forestry method," but reversed her stance after the regulation was strengthened to mandate significant logging reductions in NSW forests. She argued the method could effectively end the native forest logging industry, expanding national park estates and protecting endangered species.
Higginson emphasized the importance of protecting 176,000 hectares of forest near Coffs Harbour, home to more than 100 threatened species, and highlighted the involvement of First Nations people in managing the land. She acknowledged reservations about using carbon credits—financial instruments representing one tonne of prevented or sequestered carbon emissions—as offsets for polluters, calling it “deeply offensive,” but contended that rejecting the method outright could jeopardize forest conservation gains.
The Nationals, representing the forestry sector, argue that the regulation would set a dangerous precedent by allowing governments to withhold environmental protection unless compensated with carbon credits. Organizations including the Bob Brown Foundation and the Wilderness Society have joined in calling for the disallowance motion, asserting that the park proposal predated the carbon credit scheme and that reliance on offsets does not guarantee genuine emissions reductions.
On the other hand, prominent conservation groups such as WWF, Greenpeace, and the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation have voiced support for maintaining the regulation, warning that its removal might imperil the establishment of the koala park and the protection of native forests hard-hit by decades of logging.
The federal Greens have yet to finalize their position, having met to discuss the issue without reaching consensus. Some members are reportedly negotiating with the Labor Party regarding potential adjustments to the carbon credit arrangement. The debate unfolds amid intense lobbying efforts by conservationists, including public campaigns and appeals targeting federal lawmakers.
The controversy has also caused a rift between Higginson and her mentor, former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown, who opposes the carbon credit method. Brown accused the NSW premier Chris Minns and the federal Labor government, led by Anthony Albanese, of prioritizing economic interests over environmental commitments. He dismissed the carbon credit scheme as a mechanism allowing polluters to evade accountability and called on Greens senators to reject what he labeled an “anti-environmental gimmick” from Labor.
Despite their disagreements, Higginson and Brown continue to collaborate on other conservation initiatives, with both participating in recent events supporting Sydney’s southern forests. Independent senators, including David Pocock and former Green Lidia Thorpe, broadly align with Higginson’s perspective, underscoring the complex and nuanced debate surrounding forest protection and carbon offset policies in Australia.