{
  "id": 6226867,
  "title": "Longer wait for Koala Park ahead of carbon credits vote",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/longer-wait-for-koala-park-ahead-of-carbon-credits-vote",
  "topic": null,
  "section": null,
  "published": "2026-09-08T03:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://moreechampion.com.au/story/9346075/longer-wait-for-koala-park-ahead-of-carbon-credits-vote"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A proposed plan to safeguard koala habitats is once again facing opposition, with a state Green MP urging her federal colleagues to prioritize conservation over the timber industry. NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson implored her party's senators not to endorse a motion from the Nationals party to veto legislation known as the Improved Native Forest Management Method (INFM). The INFM, initiated by the NSW government under Premier Chris Minns and supported by the federal government, enables states to generate substantial income by refraining from logging public native forests that would otherwise be utilized for commercial forestry purposes. The bill is slated for a vote on September 15, with the intention of enabling the state to earn carbon credits through the creation of a national park. Higginson acknowledged that the INFM was not flawless, but she emphasized that rejecting the bill would preclude the proposed Great Koala National Park on the NSW mid-north coast from being logged. This decision proved challenging for her, as she understood that protecting forests must remain the top priority at present. Discontent regarding the legislation has created a division within the Greens, with former leaders Bob Brown and Christine Milne among those who have openly opposed it. Brown expressed concern that carbon trading should not serve as a prerequisite for establishing national parks, stating that this Labor measure would place the future of national parks in the hands of trading companies. He vehemently opposed the move, urging senators not to be swayed by Labor's environmental tactics. The Australian Greens spokesperson stated that the party was engaging in discussions with the federal government and consulting with the climate and environment movement prior to the vote. Despite the controversy surrounding carbon offset banks for climate polluters, Higginson asserted that the revised version of the bill offers significant benefits for forests. She acknowledged that while she personally opposes this approach, if it were to be withdrawn, another method developed by the native forest logging industry would likely take its place, resulting in continued logging and the generation of carbon credits from forests. Environmental organizations have differing opinions on the INFM, with several, such as WWF-Australia, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, and the North East Forest Alliance, opposing the disallowing of the method through full-page newspaper advertisements. However, others, like the Wilderness Society, argue that it preserves nature in one location while justifying the expansion of fossil fuel industries elsewhere.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}