The central concept is future potential production forest land. This is land described in column 2 of the table in clause 2 of Schedule 1, or land that becomes FPPFL by order under section 11A of the Forest Management Act 2013 (where section 11A(6)(b) has effect), or land converted from reserved land under section 8 of this Act (s 4(1)). The area is very large, comprising dozens of lots across multiple annexures to Plan 9760 (a reduced copy of which is set out in Schedule 5). The Act defines “land” for the purposes of Schedule 1 as permanent timber production zone land, Crown land under the Crown Lands Act 1976, land owned by the Forestry corporation, or land owned by a State-owned company or Government Business Enterprise, but excludes land owned by the Abt Railway Ministerial Corporation, land reserved under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, and land owned by Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd (Schedule 1, clause 1).

A second key concept is the prohibition on native forest harvesting. “Native forest harvesting” is defined in section 3 as harvesting that requires a certified forest practices plan under the Forest Practices Act 1985. It expressly excludes harvesting associated with providing access roading or installing cable harvesting infrastructure for forestry coupes that are permanent timber production zone land or for the specific forestry coupes listed in Schedule 2, as well as special species timber harvesting approved under Part 3. Partial harvesting of special species timber is separately defined and regulated.

The special species management plan is a statutory instrument made by the Minister (after a 42-day public comment period) that specifies the special species timber to which the plan applies, the land to which it applies, the established supply level for each species, and information on management of conservation, environmental, cultural and heritage values (s 12(3)). The plan can be amended under section 13, also after a 42-day public comment process. Notices accepting the plan or amendments are not statutory rules (ss 12(9), 13(8)).

Another important concept is the management objectives for FPPFL, set out in Schedule 3. These objectives govern the Crown Lands Minister when performing functions as managing entity (s 4(7)) and must be considered when the Crown Lands Minister determines an exchange of land under section 6 (s 6(5)). The 12 objectives range from conserving natural biological diversity to providing for controlled use of natural resources including special species timber harvesting, controlled use of mineral resources, and allowing private, commercial or industrial uses.

The Act also creates a transfer notice mechanism (Schedule 4, clause 2) that allows the Crown Lands Minister, after consulting the Minister, to transfer assets, liabilities and contracts (other than timber supply contracts and employment contracts) from a corporation to the Crown or from the Crown to a corporation. Transfer notices take effect in accordance with their terms, and the transfer recipient becomes vested with assets and liable for liabilities without further assurance. Notably, a person whose contract is transferred cannot terminate or claim breach solely because of the transfer (Schedule 4, clause 2(8)).

The Act affects a wide range of public and private actors. The most directly affected entity is the Forestry corporation (as defined in the Forest Management Act 2013). Its timber production zone land is partially reclassified as FPPFL, and it loses the right to conduct native forest harvesting on that land subject to the Schedule 2 coupe exceptions. The Forestry corporation must also ensure that any native forest harvesting on land converted from FPPFL to permanent timber production zone land is consistent with its forest management certification (s 7(9)). The corporation’s capacity to meet the annual supply of veneer and sawlog and to supply logs under Part 5A of the Forest Management Act 2013 must be assessed before any exchange of land can proceed (s 6(2)(b)).

The Crown Lands Minister (the minister administering the Crown Lands Act 1976) is given extensive new powers and obligations. That minister becomes the managing entity for most FPPFL, is substituted as a party to existing leases and licences on that land (s 9(4)), and must have regard to the Schedule 3 management objectives when performing functions (s 4(7)). The Crown Lands Minister also determines applications for land exchanges, conversions, and special species timber harvesting approvals. For these determinations, the minister must consult with and obtain advice from the Minister administering the Forest Management Act 2013 and the Minister (who appears to be the Minister for Resources, based on the administration assignment in s 39).

Holders of existing leases, licences, temporary licences, occupation permits, and burdening easements on land that becomes FPPFL are affected because the counterparty to their arrangement changes from the original grantor (which may have been a Government Business Enterprise or State-owned company) to the Crown Lands Minister (s 9(4)). However, their rights are preserved: the instrument continues in force until it expires or is surrendered, released, discharged or terminated, as if section 4(2) had not commenced (s 9(7)(a)). The Crown Lands Minister steps into the grantor’s shoes with the same functions, powers, rights and obligations that the grantor would have had, but is not liable for any pre-commencement breach (s 9(8)).

Persons other than the Forestry corporation who wish to harvest special species timber from FPPFL are directly regulated by Part 3. They may apply to the Crown Lands Minister for approval, but only after the third anniversary of the commencement of Part 3 (s 11(1)). They must provide a certified forest practices plan. The minister can only approve if satisfied that the special species timber cannot be supplied from permanent timber production zone land and that the harvesting will be consistent with the special species management plan (s 11(7)). Approved applicants may be required to pay prescribed amounts (s 11(8)).

State-owned companies and Government Business Enterprises that owned statutory land before commencement are affected: that land is not automatically vested in the Crown (s 4(3)), and the prohibition on sale of FPPFL (s 4(8)) ceases to apply to statutory land on and from 8 April 2020 (s 4(11)). They may also be parties to transfer notices as transferors or transfer recipients under Schedule 4.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal community is recognised in the management objectives, which encourage cooperative management programs with Aboriginal people in areas of significance to them, consistent with the other management objectives (Schedule 3, objective (h)). No specific rights or consultation mechanisms are created beyond that objective.

Finally, holders of the specific forestry right in dealing C606341 (the 14.5 hectare coupe RR112A) have that right suspended and are prohibited from doing anything required, authorised or permitted by it (s 4(2)(e)).

The Act imposes several key duties. The primary duty is the prohibition on native forest harvesting on FPPFL (s 4(2)(d)). This prohibition does not apply to the specific forestry coupes listed in Schedule 2 (s 4(4)). It also does not apply to activities that are within the definitional exclusions of “native forest harvesting”: access roading, cable harvesting infrastructure installation, and approved special species timber harvesting.

The managing entity of FPPFL has a duty not to sell, transfer or convey that land to any other person (s 4(8)). However, this does not apply to land used for electricity infrastructure, highways, powerline corridors, rail infrastructure, rail planning corridors, or subsidiary roads (s 4(10)). It also does not apply to an exchange of land under section 6 (s 4(9)). For statutory land, the sale prohibition ceases on 8 April 2020 (s 4(11)). The managing entity’s existing functions, powers and obligations continue unaffected, subject to the prohibition on native forest harvesting and the vesting provisions (s 4(6)).

The Crown Lands Minister, when acting as managing entity, must have regard to the management objectives in Schedule 3 (s 4(7)). Those objectives require the minister to conserve biological and geological diversity, preserve water quality, protect catchments, conserve cultural sites, encourage education and research, protect the land from fire and other adverse impacts, encourage tourism and recreation, encourage cooperative Aboriginal management programs, provide for ecologically sustainable game taking, provide for controlled natural resource use including special species timber harvesting, provide for mineral exploration and utilisation, and allow private, commercial or industrial uses.

A significant right is the ability of the Minister administering the Forest Management Act 2013 to request the Crown Lands Minister to consider exchanging FPPFL for permanent timber production zone land (s 6(1)). Before making such a request, that minister must obtain and have regard to information about reasons, impact on log supply and forestry compensation certificates, size and conservation values, and implications for forest management certification (s 6(2)). The Crown Lands Minister must obtain information on the impact on the special species management plan area, and must have regard to all that information and the Schedule 3 objectives before approving an exchange (ss 6(4), (5)). The exchange is given effect by an order under section 11A of the Forest Management Act 2013 (s 6(8)).

Similarly, the same minister may request conversion of FPPFL to permanent timber production zone land, but not before 8 April 2020 (s 7(1)). The process involves even more information, including an assessment of forest resources, demand, social and economic impacts, and the corporation’s intention to harvest consistent with forest management certification (s 7(2)). The Crown Lands Minister’s approval leads to an order under section 11B of the Forest Management Act 2013 (s 7(8)).

Holders of existing leases, licences, occupation permits and easements on FPPFL have the right to continue under those instruments on the same terms, but with the Crown Lands Minister substituted as the counterparty (s 9(7)(a)). Persons seeking special species timber harvesting rights have the right to apply under section 11, but only within the limited window and subject to strict conditions. The minister may approve subject to conditions or refuse (s 11(6)), and may require payment of prescribed amounts (s 11(8)).

The public has a procedural right to comment on draft special species management plans and draft amendments. The comment period is 42 days (ss 12(4), 13(3)). The minister must consider representations before accepting a plan (ss 12(6), 13(5)).

The Act creates very few penalty provisions on its own terms. The most significant operative prohibition is the ban on native forest harvesting on FPPFL (s 4(2)(d)). However, the Act does not itself state a penalty for contravening that prohibition. Enforcement would rely on the underlying regulatory framework of the Forest Practices Act 1985 (which requires a certified forest practices plan for native forest harvesting) and the Forest Management Act 2013 (which governs harvesting on permanent timber production zone land). Because the Act transfers land out of permanent timber production zone land, any unauthorised harvesting would likely be an offence under those other Acts. The Act does not create a stand-alone offence.

Similarly, the prohibition on selling, transferring or conveying FPPFL (s 4(8)) does not carry a specified penalty. The prohibition on doing anything required, authorised or permitted by the specific forestry right in dealing C606341 (s 4(2)(e)) is also unaccompanied by an express penalty. The practical enforcement mechanism may be through civil remedies such as injunction or through the Crown Lands Act 1976 and land management powers of the minister.

The Act does provide for regulations to be made by the Governor (s 37). Regulations may apply differently according to matters, limitations or restrictions, and may authorise any matter to be determined, applied or regulated by any person or body specified (ss 37(2), (3)). It is possible that regulations could prescribe penalties for contraventions, but none are evident from the source text.

The transfer notice provisions in Schedule 4 have a quasi-enforcement aspect: a person who is a party to a contract that is transferred under a notice is not entitled to terminate the contract, claim a breach or default, or claim any remedy by reason only of the transfer (Schedule 4, clause 2(8)). This is a statutory override of contractual rights and could be enforced through the courts if a party attempts to terminate.

For the special species timber harvesting regime, the approval granted under section 11(6) may be subject to conditions. Failure to comply with those conditions could lead to revocation or other consequences, though the Act does not expressly state them. The requirement to pay prescribed amounts (s 11(8)) if not paid might be recoverable as a debt due to the Crown.

The Act also provides that the Crown Lands Minister is not liable for any breach of a lease, licence, temporary licence, occupation permit or burdening easement that occurred before the commencement of section 4(2) (s 9(8)). This limits potential claims against the minister arising from past defaults of the original grantor.

Overall, the enforcement architecture is light within the Act itself. The primary constraints are operational and administrative: the FPPFL classification blocks harvesting unless an exception applies, and the land cannot be alienated. Breaches would likely be dealt with under the broader suite of forestry and lands legislation.

The Act is explicitly interconnected with at least eight other Tasmanian statutes. It defines key terms by cross-reference to those Acts: for example, “forest” and “forest practices plan” take their meaning from the Forest Practices Act 1985; “annual supply of veneer and sawlog”, “forest product”, “Forestry corporation”, “permanent timber production zone land”, and “timber” take their meaning from the Forest Management Act 2013; “Crown land” and “Crown Lands Minister” refer to the Crown Lands Act 1976; and “electricity infrastructure” refers to the Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995. The definition of “highway” draws on the Highways Act 1951, the Roads and Jetties Act 1935, and the Local Government (Highways) Act 1982. “Powerline corridor” is from the Electricity Wayleaves and Easements Act 2000. “Rail infrastructure” and “rail planning corridor” are from the Rail Infrastructure Act 2007. The Abt Railway Development Act 1999 defines the Abt Railway Ministerial Corporation. World Heritage List is defined by reference to the World Heritage Convention.

Parts 4 through 8 of the Act amend the Forest Management Act 2013, the Forest Practices Act 1985, the Forest Practices Regulations 2007, the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002, and the Nature Conservation Act 2002. The source text states that these amendments have been incorporated into the authorised versions of those Acts, meaning the detailed amendment provisions are not reproduced. The effect is that those Acts are modified to reflect the new FPPFL tenure and the repeal of the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Act 2013.

The Act also interacts with the Crown Lands Act 1976 by vesting FPPFL in the Crown and making that land Crown land (s 4(2)(a)), and by giving the Crown Lands Minister the same powers under that Act as were previously held by the original grantor (s 9(7)(b)(i)). The Land Titles Act 1980 is engaged by section 10, which requires the Crown Lands Minister to cause applications and plans to be lodged with the Recorder of Titles to reflect vesting of land in the Crown.

The Nature Conservation Act 2002 is directly affected by section 8: if a reserve specified in the 16 December 2013 proclamation (Statutory Rules 2013, No. 111) is excluded from the World Heritage List, the Crown Lands Minister may convert that reserve (or part of it) to FPPFL, and it ceases to be a reserve under the Nature Conservation Act (s 8(2)(b)).

The Tasmanian Forests Agreement Act 2013 is entirely repealed by section 34 and Schedule 6. However, the proclamation made under that Act on 16 December 2013 (Statutory Rules 2013, No. 111) continues in force insofar as it is not inconsistent with this Act, and may be altered, amended or rescinded under this Act (s 36). The terms “future reserve land” is defined by reference to the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Act 2013 as in force immediately before the commencement of section 3 (s 3).

The Administrative Arrangements Act 1990 is referenced for the assignment of administration of the Act: until an order under that Act provides otherwise, the Act is assigned to the Minister for Resources and the Department of State Growth (s 39).

The Rules Publication Act 1953 is excluded for certain instruments: orders under section 8 converting reserved land are not statutory rules (s 8(3)); notices accepting special species management plans are not statutory rules (ss 12(9), 13(8)); and transfer notices under Schedule 4 are not statutory rules (Schedule 4, clause 2(10)).

The source text is the version in force as at 12 April 2026. The Act itself is the Forestry (Rebuilding the Forest Industry) Act 2014 (Act No. 12 of 2014). The text does not reproduce amendment history tables. However, it is clear that the Act has been amended: Parts 4 through 8 contain provisions that amend the Forest Management Act 2013, Forest Practices Act 1985, Forest Practices Regulations 2007, National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002, and Nature Conservation Act 2002. Those amendment provisions are themselves part of the original Act, not later amendments to this Act.

The source text does not identify any amending Acts that have changed this Act after its enactment. The commencement provision (s 2) states that provisions commence on a day or days to be proclaimed, so some parts may have commenced later than the date of assent. The Act’s long title and number are not provided in the excerpt, but the citation on the first page indicates “act-2014-012”.

The Act does contain a number of temporal triggers: the conversion of FPPFL to permanent timber production zone land cannot be requested before 8 April 2020 (s 7(1)). The prohibition on sale of statutory land ceases on 8 April 2020 (s 4(11)). Applications for special species timber harvesting can only be made not earlier than 3 years from the commencement of Part 3 (s 11(1)). The special species management plan must be made within 3 years of the commencement of Part 3 (s 12(1)). These dates indicate that the Act contemplated staged operation.

The Act also contains a standard regulation-making power (s 37) and a savings and transitional regulation power (Schedule 4, clause 5), which would allow subsequent regulatory amendments to effect savings or transitional matters.

Overall, the amendment history visible from the source is limited. The Act has not been replaced; it remains in force with the amendments it made to other Acts having been incorporated into those Acts. The repeal of the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Act 2013 suggests a policy shift away from that earlier agreement framework.

The Act does not itself refer to any litigation. No cases are mentioned in the statutory text, and no judicial consideration is referenced. The source provides no basis to discuss specific court decisions. As a matter of legal analysis, the Act’s provisions could be expected to generate disputes over, for example, the scope of the native forest harvesting prohibition and its exceptions, the exercise of ministerial discretion under sections 6, 7, and 11, and the application of the no-compensation clause in section 5. The transfer notice provisions in Schedule 4 could also be challenged on the grounds that they override contractual rights and limit remedies. However, without any actual case names or summaries in the source, a responsible analyst cannot speculate on the outcome or existence of such litigation. The absence of litigation history in the source is itself a notable point: it may indicate that the Act has been implemented without major court challenges, or simply that the source does not include that material.

Several provisions of this Act could ensnare practitioners who assume standard property or forestry principles apply.

First, no compensation is payable for loss arising from land becoming FPPFL (s 5). This is a blanket exclusion and applies regardless of the value of the land or the rights lost. It extinguishes any common law or statutory claim for compensation that might otherwise arise from the vesting of private interests in the Crown under s 4(2)(a). The only exception is that subsections (1) and (2) do not extinguish or affect the right to commence or carry on any activity authorised before commencement (s 4(5)), but that preservation of existing activities does not create a compensation entitlement.

Second, the sale prohibition (s 4(8)) is absolute for all FPPFL except statutory land (where it ceases on 8 April 2020) and land used for specified infrastructure (electricity infrastructure, highways, powerline corridors, rail infrastructure, rail planning corridors, subsidiary roads). An exchange under section 6 does not count as a sale, but any other form of disposal is prohibited. Practitioners advising on land transactions must confirm whether the land is FPPFL, and if so, whether any exception applies. The definition of “sell, transfer or convey” is not expanded, and by negative implication, giving a lease or licence would not be prohibited , the Act expressly contemplates continuation of leases and licences under section 9.

Third, the vesting provision (s 4(2)(a)) applies broadly but contains two critical exceptions: it does not apply to statutory land (s 4(3)), and the prohibition on native forest harvesting does not apply to the forestry coupes listed in Schedule 2 (s 4(4)). The Schedule 2 coupes are identified by coupe code and district. Any native forest harvesting on those coupes is still regulated by the Forest Practices Act 1985, but it is not prohibited by this Act.

Fourth, the special species timber harvesting approval under Part 3 is subject to a time gate: applications can only be made “not earlier than 3 years from the commencement of this Part” (s 11(1)). If Part 3 commenced with the rest of the Act on proclamation, that means no applications could be made before 2017 at the earliest. The approval is also subject to the minister being satisfied that the timber cannot be supplied from permanent timber production zone land (s 11(7)(a)). This creates a supply-chain test that could block approvals if the Forestry corporation or others can source the timber elsewhere.

Fifth, the special species management plan must be made within 3 years of Part 3’s commencement (s 12(1)). If that deadline was missed, there may have been a period during which no plan existed, which would effectively prevent any approvals under section 11 because the minister must be satisfied that harvesting will be consistent with the plan. The plan-making process includes a 42-day public comment period, but the minister is not required to accept all representations (ss 12(4)-(6)).

Sixth, transfer notices (Schedule 4) can take effect retrospectively: a notice may specify a transfer day that is before, on or after the day the notice is published in the Gazette (Schedule 4, clause 2(4)). This means assets, liabilities or contracts can be transferred with retroactive effect. Parties to contracts that are transferred cannot terminate or claim breach solely because of the transfer (Schedule 4, clause 2(8)). This is a significant limitation on ordinary contractual rights.

Seventh, the Crown Lands Minister is not liable for pre-commencement breaches of leases, licences, or easements (s 9(8)). A tenant with a claim against the original grantor for a pre-vesting breach cannot pursue the Crown Lands Minister for that breach. The minister steps into the shoes of the grantor only for rights and obligations that continue after commencement.

Eighth, the definition of “native forest harvesting” is carefully circumscribed. It excludes harvesting for access roading and cable harvesting infrastructure for permanent timber production zone land and for the Schedule 2 coupes. It also excludes special species timber harvesting approved under Part 3. However, the definition does not exclude harvesting that is incidental to other activities such as mining or infrastructure development, unless those activities are separately authorised.

Ninth, while the Act repeals the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Act 2013 (s 34, Schedule 6), it continues the proclamation made under that Act on 16 December 2013 (Statutory Rules 2013, No. 111) insofar as it is consistent (s 36). Practitioners relying on the repeal should check that the proclamation has not been preserved or amended.

Compliance obligations depend on the entity’s relationship to FPPFL.

For the managing entity (including the Crown Lands Minister and any other person in whom management or ownership is vested), the core compliance steps are:

• Ensure no native forest harvesting is undertaken on FPPFL, except on the forestry coupes specified in Schedule 2 (ss 4(2)(d), 4(4)). Regular checks against the Schedule 2 list are necessary.
• Do not sell, transfer or convey the land to any other person, unless the land is used for electricity infrastructure, highways, powerline corridors, rail infrastructure, rail planning corridors, or subsidiary roads, or unless the transaction is an exchange under section 6 (ss 4(8)-(10)). For statutory land, the prohibition ceases on 8 April 2020, but the managing entity should verify the date and document compliance.
• When exercising functions or powers as managing entity, the Crown Lands Minister must have regard to the management objectives in Schedule 3 (s 4(7)). This requires a documented process of considering each objective before making a decision that affects the land.
• If the managing entity is the Crown Lands Minister and a request for an exchange or conversion is received, the statutory consultation and information-gathering process under sections 6 and 7 must be followed strictly. That includes obtaining information on supply impacts, conservation values, forest management certification implications, and social and economic impacts of conversion (s 7(2)). Decisions must be in writing (ss 6(7), 7(7)).
• For existing leases, licences, temporary licences, occupation permits and burdening easements, the Crown Lands Minister must step in as the substitute party (s 9(4)) and administer those instruments under the Crown Lands Act 1976. The minister should conduct a review of all such instruments on FPPFL and ensure the original grantor has been replaced in all official records and communications.
• For vesting of land under the Land Titles Act 1980, the Crown Lands Minister must cause an application and a survey plan to be lodged with the Recorder of Titles as soon as practicable after land becomes vested land (s 10(3)). Compliance involves engaging a registered surveyor and preparing the necessary documentation.

For a person seeking to harvest special species timber on FPPFL:

• Confirm that Part 3 has commenced and that at least three years have elapsed since that commencement (s 11(1)).
• Obtain a certified forest practices plan from the Forest Practices Authority under section 19 of the Forest Practices Act 1985. That plan must be included in the application (s 11(2)(a)).
• Apply to the Crown Lands Minister. The application must contain the certified plan and any other matters prescribed by regulations (s 11(2)).
• Be prepared to demonstrate that the special species timber sought cannot be supplied from permanent timber production zone land at the time of application (s 11(7)(a)).
• Ensure that the proposed harvesting will be consistent with the applicable special species management plan (s 11(7)(b)). That plan will specify the land, species, and established supply levels (s 12(3)(a)).
• Comply with any conditions imposed in the approval and pay any amounts prescribed by the regulations (ss 11(6), 11(8)).

For the Minister (who makes the special species management plan):

• Within three years of Part 3’s commencement, cause the plan to be made (s 12(1)).
• Before making it, assess the conservation values of any FPPFL intended to be included (s 12(2)).
• Prepare a draft, make it available for public comment for 42 days, and advertise that availability (s 12(4)).
• Consider representations, then accept the draft with or without modifications (s 12(6)).
• Publish a notice in the Gazette and make the plan publicly available (s 12(7)). The plan takes effect on the date of that notice (s 12(8)).
• For amendments, follow the same public consultation process (s 13).

For parties to existing leases, licences or easements on land that becomes FPPFL:

• Note that the Crown Lands Minister is now the counterparty. Continue to perform obligations under the instrument as before, but direct all future communications to the responsible department under the Crown Lands Act 1976 (s 9(6)).
• Any pre-commencement breach by the original grantor cannot be enforced against the Crown Lands Minister (s 9(8)).
• The instrument continues until it expires or is surrendered, released, discharged or terminated, as if the vesting had not occurred (s 9(7)(a)).

For persons considering acquiring an interest in land:

• Conduct a title search and check whether the land appears in Schedule 1 or has been the subject of an order under section 8 or under sections 11A or 11B of the Forest Management Act 2013.
• Be aware that no compensation is payable for any loss from the land being designated FPPFL (s 5).
• If the land is FPPFL, the sale prohibition applies unless an exception or an exchange under section 6 is approved.

More broadly, compliance with the Act involves ensuring that any activity on FPPFL is consistent with the classification. For example, mineral exploration and utilisation are allowed (Schedule 3 objective (k)), but mining may require separate approvals under the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995. The Act does not prohibit mining; it provides for controlled mineral resource use. Infrastructure development for electricity, roads and rail is also unaffected because those uses are carved out from the sale prohibition and are inherently consistent with the management objectives that allow private, commercial or industrial uses (Schedule 3 objective (l)).