Calls for review of forestry exemption laws after VicForests conservation breaches

The judgment against the agency could lead to forestry operations being assessed under national environmental laws for the first time in 20 years

A landmark court judgment that a government forestry agency repeatedly breached conservation regulations has sparked calls for a review of an industry-wide exemption for logging under national environment laws.

Last week the federal court found VicForests, a body owned by Victorian taxpayers, breached a code of practice in a regional forestry agreement (RFA) between the federal and state governments covering the state's central highlands.