The Minns Labor government has laid off dozens of Forestry Corporation staff on the NSW North Coast, including more than 30 in Coffs Harbour, via email. The move follows a moratorium on timber harvesting and is tied to the creation of the Great Koala National Park, which uses a carbon method that critics say rewards locking up forests without solid science. The NSW Nationals and the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union have both questioned whether the government can legitimately claim carbon credits for the park when harvesting has already stopped and jobs are being cut. The union has called for the carbon method to be scrapped, arguing it incentivizes land banking rather than active forest management. With timber harvesting halted and staff reductions underway, the project's carbon credit claims face scrutiny. The situation highlights tensions between conservation goals, carbon market integrity, and regional economic impacts in Australia's forestry sector.
