New Polling reveals Tasmanians want greater environmental action and an end to native forest logging

The Wilderness Society commissioned DemosAU to conduct a survey of 998 Tasmanian voters between 30 October and 11 November 2025. 

The results reveal strong support for greater environmental protections, and majority opposition to native forest logging. Just 12% of those surveyed support native forest logging in Tasmania.

Stronger environmental policies would influence future voting choices for more than 1 in 3 Tasmanian voters. Tasmanians view both major parties as favouring industry over the environment, and are more than twice as likely to rate their performance on the environment in a negative light. 

The findings come as the Albanese government continues negotiations in the Senate over changes to federal nature law, which could include changes to the regulation of native forest logging. Tasmania is one of two remaining States (along with NSW) to allow native forest logging on public land, via controversial Regional Forest Agreements, which are currently exempted under the federal nature law. 

Key findings:

• Support for native forest logging in Tasmania is at an all time low, with only 12% of Tasmanian’s supporting it.
• Most Tasmanian voters are concerned about the state and health of the environment in Tasmania. 73% are concerned about the state and health of the environment in Tasmania, including 36% who are very or extremely concerned.
• Almost four out of ten (38%) respondents rated Labor’s performance on protecting the environment as poor or terrible, compared to 17% who rated it good or excellent
• 46% rated the Liberals as poor or terrible, compared to 21% who rated the party’s performance as good or excellent.
• More than a third of voters would be more likely to vote for either major party in the next State Election if they ended the logging of native forests in Tasmania
• Voters were also inclined to believe the two parties were more concerned about industry (44% for Labor, 58% for the Liberals) than the environment (19% and 12% respectively).
• Demos identified 13% of the poll sample as ‘Lapsed Labor Voters’, who were more likely to hold a negative view on Labor’s current environmental policy and indicated a greater interest to vote Labor if it improved its environment policies. Lapsed Labor voters are generally pro-environment.

Alice Hardinge, Tasmanian Campaigns Manager for the Wilderness Society said,

“Urgent action is needed to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis. This poll reveals that both parties of government are out of touch with what Tasmanians want, which is an end to native forest logging and more action to protect our unique environment.”

“Support for native forest logging in Tasmania is at an historic low. As the Albanese government negotiates changes to federal nature laws, Tasmanians are signalling that it’s time to remove deforestation loopholes and subject logging to the same rules as other sectors, once and for all.”

“Tasmanians are seriously concerned about the deteriorating state of the environment and expect the endless prioritisation of destructive industries over nature to end.”