02/09/2026
Our protected areas ARE our business 💕🙏
WA Parliament has said it. Now it's time for WA to act!
Last week, Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn told Parliament that protected areas are worth more than $2.4 BILLION to Western Australia's economy and support over 20,000 full-time jobs.
That's not an environmental slogan. That's economic reality.
Tourists visiting WA's protected natural areas generate hundreds of millions of dollars for our state. Aboriginal tourism creates jobs, strengthens regional communities and recognises the deep cultural significance of Country.
Yet despite all of this, our precious native forests continue to face pressure.
The Jarrahdale forests are not expendable!!
They are not vacant land.
They are not timber stockpiles.
They are not a resource to be sacrificed for short-term gain.
They are living ecosystems that support wildlife, clean water, recreation, tourism, local businesses, culture and the wellbeing of countless Western Australians.
And let's be clear about what is at stake.
The jarrah forests of WA's south-west are part of a global biodiversity hotspot — one of the most biologically rich and threatened places on Earth, home to species found nowhere else.
Strip mining these forests doesn't just remove trees. It strips away entire ecosystems.
Once the forest, soil and habitat are cleared, we cannot simply replace an ancient and complex ecosystem with a plantation and claim that nothing has been lost.
As Minister Swinbourn said:
“Our parks are far more than places of natural beauty. They are economic assets, tourism drawcards, places of deep cultural significance, and essential to the wellbeing of our communities.”
Those words should mean something!!!!
If protected forests are truly an investment in WA's economy, environment, culture and future, then the question is simple:
Why aren't we doing everything possible to protect the extraordinary forests of Jarrahdale?
We cannot keep celebrating the value of protected nature in Parliament while allowing irreplaceable forests to remain under threat outside it.
🌿 Protecting forests creates lasting jobs.
🌿 Protecting forests strengthens regional economies.
🌿 Protecting forests safeguards culture and biodiversity.
🌿 Protecting forests is an investment that future generations will thank us for.
The science is clear. The economics are clear. The community is clear.
Protect the Jarrahdale forests — before they're gone.
Please share this post and help keep the pressure on for genuine, lasting forest protection. 🌳💚
Roger Cook Hon. Rod Caddies MLC Jess Beckerling Dr Brian Walker MLC Jonathan Huston MLA Hugh Jones MLA
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