Green Star buckles under union pressure

1 December 2009 | by Gemma Battenbough

After mounting pressure from unions, as well as state and federal governments, the Green Building Council of Australia has relaxed its Green Star Timber credit rating.

The new, more lenient, code will consider the use of Australian Forestry Standard for sustainable timber when assessing buildings using the Green Star rating tool.

Previously, the council’s accreditation backed only the stricter Forestry Stewardship Council standard, which authorizes just 5 per cent of global timber as sustainable.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said the change signaled the “death knell of the Council's authenticity”. ?

“Timber ripped by Gunns out of Tasmania’s ancient forests, habitat for endangered species and ecosystems, will now get the Council’s ‘green’ imprimatur. It is a farce,” Brown said.

The campaign had been an exercise in green wash, orchestrated by the Rudd government, he said.

Construction union CFMEU welcomed the decision, saying the GBCA did not deserve its “monopoly status” in terms of government procurement.??“For this mob to have created a scenario where domestic timber harvested according to sustainable world’s best practice has been at such a disadvantage is unforgiveable and deserves further scrutiny,” CFMEU forestry and furnishing division national secretary, Michael O’Conner, said.

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Add a comment3 Comments

Mark Ashby | 7 December, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Once again the CFMEU has proven that it is entirely unconcerned about he plethora of research showing that native forest logging has severe & long-lastiong impacts on water production & biodiversity. Once again, the CFMEU has shown that it is less concerned the future of everyone's kids than about short-term profits for it's bosses. I wonder how many CFMEU reps took up Gunns' offer of cheap motor vehicles?
sarah | 3 December, 2009 at 12:54 PM
How can we get anywhere in creating a more sustainable world if there aren't standards enforced by regulators such as the GBCA. That a leading sustainable assessor can be cracked because the resources are limited? If people can't commit to this, then they don't get the points. Green star assessment is not enforceable it is voluntary, and people should be guided to the right choices and not compromise.
Lance of sydney | 1 December, 2009 at 04:50 PM
I have a lot of respect for Bob Brown however his anger and dramatic wording about the GBCA is misguided. It seesm to me they had little choice in the matter. His anger should be firmly on the CFMEU and the current goverment not the GBCA. I for one hope the GBCA continues its amazing work regardless of this set back.