A mass protest in Tasmania’s forests yesterday has resulted in eight community members being arrested.
Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said, ‘The time has well passed for our protests in these ancient forests to be met with police and eviction of nature’s defenders. Logging machines in native forests across the state need to be evicted and forests protected for their climate and wildlife benefits.’
Campaigner Erik Hayward said, ‘For thousands of years, these forests have been high up on the exposed southern central plateau. An endangered wedge-tailed eagle soared over us while in the forests, reminding us that they depend on these forests that are being crushed, wrecked and lost forever.
‘Today, these forests were given relief from the relentless logging destruction,’ he said. ‘The defiance of those who were here today in unison is a telling moment of resistance. We will not stop in the defence of our wild places.’
Defenders
Those who were arrested (Gabby Knox, Mae Woodruff, Gordon Cuff, Susie Aulich, Riley Wilcox, Fiona Gipters, Jenny Fitzgibbon and Wayne Gipters), said they were taking action for wildlife, forest and climate protection.
‘As a vet nurse and wildlife carer, I see the injured and orphaned wildlife coming through as a result of land clearing and decreased habitat. They are reliant on this habitat, and we need to protect these wild places for them,’ said 29 year old Gabby Knox.
‘I am taking action today because I am distraught about the destruction of Australian forests,’ said 60 year old Jenny Fitzgibbon.
‘I am here to do my duty and stop the logging of ecosystems that will never grow back. The majority of people want them to be left for the creatures that live here, and are beginning to recognise that we humans can’t survive without intact forests.
‘They are worth more standing. That our taxes are being used to pay for this killing boils my blood.’
Fiona Gipters, 57, said, ‘Politicians are not protecting our unique ecosystems, not taking necessary steps to address climate change are not preventing extinctions and are not being honest. It’s time to stand up.’
Wayne Gipters, a 58 year old IT project manager and analyst, added, ‘We must stop the wanton destruction of our irreplaceable forests and oceans. I can’t believe we are way into the 21st century and still losing the beautiful natural habitat of so many species. People need to act now to change our ways.’
Swifties win
There was also a win for the Bob Brown Foundation in the Tasmanian Supreme Court yesterday, with the suspension of a Forest Practices Plan and restraint on any forest practices in the logging coupe KD022C in Southern Tasmania.
The Bob Brown Foundation says this is the first of many cases that will be rolling out to challenge the logging practices in the state. The foundation’s successful application for an injunction on the logging of swift parrot breeding forests in KD022C is in place now, pending determination of the substantial case.
‘Logging commenced in October 2023 and was destroying swift parrot breeding habitat with the parrots present and our case is that this is illegal,’ said a statement from the BBF.
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