Writ Regarding Old Growth in Pulp Mill Accepted, Seperated

Ruling On Triabunna 13 Strike Out Application

Justice David Porter this afternoon ruled that sections of the defence employed by the Triabunna 13 defendants are admissable in future proceedings. Justice Porter also ruled that the defendants have 14 days to provide further detail regarding the defence that immunity from sections of the writ should exist as the peaceful direct action conducted at the Triabunna woodchip mill was conducted in order to communicate on 'government and political' matters.

The counterclaim brought by the Triabunna 13 defendants, concerning Gunns' public statements that no ' old growth forests' and no 'old growth logs' will be used in its proposed pulp mill, was accepted as admissable, with this claim split off into seperate proceedings.

Gunns' repeated requests for costs to be awarded were ignored, with any costs rulings deferred to the conclusion of proceedings.

“ The Triabunna 13 defendants are pleased with today's decision, and will continue to fight Gunns' efforts to pursue responsible citizens who are standing up for Tasmania's forests and the planet's future. We are confident alterations to our defence, based on the right to freely communicate on political matters, can be made to the court's satisfaction,” Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson Warrick Jordan said.

“ The Triabunna 13 are particularly happy with the continuation of the claim against Gunns limited regarding their misleading statements that no old growth forests or logs will be used in their proposed pulp mill. We have grave concerns that old growth trees from our iconic southern forests, such as the Weld and Upper Florentine, will be used to supply the pulp mill, and that Gunns', and others in the forestry industry, are misleading the public, and potential investors,” Warrick Jordan said.

“ After the climate change action at Triabunna earlier this month, Gunns ruled out pursuing activists through civil claims,” said Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson Warrick Jordan.

“Gunns have obviously realised that such legal actions are bad for the company's image, and that they are useless, as activists will not be intimidated from taking strong, peaceful action in defense of ancient forests and the planet's future. We are surprised that Gunns' are continuing with what is shaping up as another long running and embarrassing court battle,” Warrick Jordan said.

Decision On Triabunna 13 Strike Out Application Today

Media Alert - Thursday, 11th June 2009

13 forest activists sued over the December 2008 climate change action at Gunns’ Triabunna

woodchip mill.

Justice David Porter ruling on Gunns' application to strike out counterclaim and defense.

The original hearing was on the 25.02.2009.

Where: Supreme Court, Salamanca Place, 2.15pm.

The Triabunna 13's defense is based on a right to communicate on government and political matters. Gunns' are suing partly as the action was undertaken to 'publicise the political beliefs' of the defendents. Gunns are seeking damages, punitive damages, and injunctions to prevent further actions. The defendant's counterclaim is based on Gunns' public statements that no ' old growth forests'

and no 'old growth logs' will be used in its proposed pulp mill. The defendants are claiming that under sections 52 and 51a of the Trade Practices Act Gunns is engaging in 'deceptive and

misleading' conduct. The defendants are seeking an injunction to prevent Gunns from making future statements of the same nature.

“After the climate change action at Triabunna earlier this month, Gunns ruled out pursuing activists through civil claims,” said Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson Warrick Jordan. “Gunns have obviously realised that such legal actions are bad for the company's image, and that they are useless, as activists will not be intimidated from taking strong, peaceful action in defense of ancient forests and the planet's future,” Warrick Jordan said.

“I imagine that Gunns' are currently re-assessing the wisdom of targeting committed, peaceful,responsible citizens who will not be dissuaded from defending the environment, and who are willing to engage in court if necessary,” Warrick Jordan said.

Two Arrests as Old Growth Logging Stops

Two people who chained themselves to logging machinery this morning in the Upper Florentine have been arrested. Logging in the coupe was halted for about 3 hours this morning as conservationists penetrated a security cage that logging machinery is parked in nightly.  

The man and the woman chained themselves to harvesting equipment in the early hours of this morning. They have been charged with trespass and will appear in Hobart Magistrates Court at a latter date. Nearly 80 people have been arrested in the Upper Florentine this year.

“Despite the extremely heavy police and security presence in the Upper Florentine, peaceful protesters will continue to stand up for Tasmania’s ancient forests. Work will continue to be stopped and people will continue to be arrested. Soon we will see the 100th arrest in the Upper Florentine for just this year. There have been dozens of people getting arrested for the first time. People from all walks of life have been getting arrested, from a 17 year old man from Hobart to a 70 year old from Westerway, a town nearby the contentious forest. The large number of arrests in the area proves that there is a huge amount of community outrage over the logging of the Upper Florentine and people are willing to get arrested to make their point.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill.

“Many people who have been arrested are Derwent valley locals who have campaigned for years to protect the Upper Florentine, David Bartlett will not even give those locals ten minutes of his time to listen to their concerns. When the Premier blatantly disregards the concerns of his constituents, it is no surprise that they resort to peaceful civil disobedience.”

“The heavy Police presence in the forest is draining police force’s resources just so Forestry Tasmania can decimate an ancient forest and Gunns can make a tidy woodchip profit. Protests will continue until this government ends old growth logging; this would help solve the problem of an overstretched, under-resourced police force.”

“It is irresponsible of David Bartlett to prioritize the protection of woodchip profits and old growth logging over police's actual role of keeping Tasmania safe. If the police are so over stretched as a result of logging in the Upper Florentine all David Bartlett needs to do is stop the logging, the protests will stop and police can go back to doing their jobs.”  Said spokesperson Ed Hill

“If the Police Association is concerned about overstretching of resources, they should lobby the government to stop logging the area due to the overwhelming public outcry and protest.”

“Only one person is responsible for over stretching police resources: David Bartlett, with his insistence on wholesale destruction of our world heritage valued forests.” Said Ed Hill.

“This issue is so contentious, The Bartlett government knew very well that there would be large and prolonged protests in the area, if they had concerns over how this would effect police resources, they should have reconsidered logging the area in the first place.”

“David Bartlett is happy to funnel as much taxpayer money as it takes into this operation to see that this old growth forest is obliterated forever.”  Concluded Ed Hill.

Logging Halted in Upper Florentine

A man and a woman have force logging operations to halt this morning when the conservationists chained themselves to logging machinery. The protester scaled the walls of a locked cage that logging machinery is parked in nightly and attached themselves to harvesting equipment. Police search and rescue have attended the logging coupe daily since operations began on May 4 and are expected to remove to protesters shortly.

Logging operations entered their fourth week as Forestry Tasmania used dynamite to blow up ancient trees deemed to dangerous to cut.

"In just 27 days over 25 ha of this pristine old growth forest has already been liquidated for woodchips. The speed of this operation is unprecedented and highlights the government's eagerness to get it done quickly as it is clearly unpopular amongst constituents." Said spokesperson Ed Hill

"The actions today have temporarily stopped logging of trees that were seedlings when Abel Tasman first set foot in Tasmania in 1642. Later today these same trees will be on their way to the wood chip mill and eventually exported to Asia. This is reckless and irresponsible management of Tasmania's heritage and it is shameful to think that we are continuing down this self destructive path well into the 21st century."  Said Mr.Hill

"Until logging of the Upper Florentine ceases, the community will continue peaceful stop work actions. The community has had enough of the Bartlett government's spineless approach to this issue." Mr Hill said

"The Bartlett government has continually ignored opportunities for constructive dialogue with conservation groups to come to a solution to this decades long dispute. Premier Bartlett needs acknowledge that the old growth logging debate is one of the most serious issues for this state. The Premier must show leadership and engage with conservation groups rather than taking the "ignore it and it will go away" approach." Said Mr Hill.

"The Tasmanian government is making a mockery of the federal government’s commitment to help end logging of rainforest in developing countries, by logging old growth rainforest in their own back yards."

"Peter Garrett and Kevin Rudd need to step in and stop the senseless destruction of Australian rainforest." Concluded Mr Hill.

Three activists arrested at Triabunna Climate Action

Three activists have been arrested after this mornings climate change action at Gunns Limiteds Triabunna woodchip mill. Two were removed from a woodchip conveyor belt at around 9am, and have been charged with trespass. A third activist was arrested outside of Gunns property on a warrant issued regarding a recent forest action in the Upper Florentine. All three activists have been bailed. The remainder of activists were ordered to remove themselves from the area for a period of 24 hours.

Two activists have also been arrested for trespass at the Geelong woodchip export facility.

Despite forest activists not targeting unloading machinery, Gunns closed the entire mill site, denying entry to log truck drivers, for around two hours, before subsequently allowing log trucks to enter the site and begin unloading. Around an hour later two activists were removed from the woodchip conveyor belt, said Huon Valley Environment Centre Spokesperson Warrick Jordan.

Indications are that Gunns may pursue legal action for this peaceful action. While peaceful activists are targeted for highlighting the destruction of ancient forest, Gunns is allowed to pollute the atmosphere with impunity. Gunns aims to protect its profits while activists are sued for protecting the future, Warrick Jordan said.

The exclusion of native forest logging emissions from the national carbon accounts must end, as must the destruction of old growth forest. Climate change is too serious for the Rudd and Bartlett Governments to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the massive emissions generated by the logging of old growth forests, Warrick Jordan said.

To say that forestry is Australias only carbon positive industry is disingenuous without proper measurement of native forest emissions the forestry industry has no grounds for making this statement. They are plucking it out of thin air, Warrick Jordan said.

Triabunna Woodchil mill shut down in National Climate Action

Media Release Monday 25.05.2009

10 forest and climate change activists have shutdown woodchipping operations at Gunns Limited’s Triabunna mill. Two activists are attached to a conveyor belt, with banners reading “No Climate Protection without Forest Protection” and “Gunns – Climate Criminals”.

Activists have deliberately avoided obstructing log un-loading machinery to avoid impacting forest contractors.

Similar actions are being staged at woodchip facilities in Geelong, Victoria and Eden and Newcastle, NSW.

“Seeking to address climate change without ending the industrial woodchipping of native forests is delusional, stupid, and criminal. How can Australia ask nations such as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to reduce forestry emissions while we continue destroying some of the world’s richest carbon stores? ” said Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson Warrick Jordan.

“The logging of native forest is Tasmania’s carbon elephant in the room. The Bartlett Government, Forestry Tasmania and Gunns claim that forestry is Australia’s only carbon positive industry. This conveniently ignores the fact that under official Kyoto rules, no emissions from native forest are counted. Tasmania deserves a climate policy that is based on more than the Premier’s current ‘if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist’ policy,” Warrick Jordan said.

“If the Rudd and Bartlett Governments are serious about addressing the climate crisis, then the protection of our carbon-rich old growth forests should be the most basic part of a climate change policy,” Warrick Jordan said.

“Last week, the world’s first climate change-induced evacuation of an entire people began in PNG’s Carteret Islands. The board members of Gunns, and those others responsible for the continued destruction of Tasmania’s forests, should take a long look at their children and grandchildren and decide whether they feel comfortable condemning them to a future dramatically impacted by climate change,” Warrick Jordan said.

“Gunns will likely legally pursue activists for undertaking this necessary, peaceful action. In reality, however, Gunns are the real criminals. Robin Gray and his cohorts will not be around to see the worst of a climate impacted future, but our generation will.  Gunns can throw around as many lawsuits as they want, but they will not dissuade ordinary people from taking peaceful action in defence of Tasmania’s ancient, carbon-rich forests,” Warrick Jordan said.

“Today’s action has avoided obstructing machinery designed to unload logs delivered by logging contractors,” Warrick Jordan said.

Two arrests in Environment Minister Meeting

Two conservationists have been arrested today at a protest at the national meeting of environment ministers in Hobart. 

The two activists, dressed as possums, climbed flag poles outside the main entrance of Wrest Point and displayed a banner reading “FOR DEVIL’S SAKE, BIN THE RFA GARRETT.”

“One the same day that the Tasmanian devil has been added to the endangered species list, endangered species habitat in the Upper Florentine is being liquidated for wood chips. The Tasmanian Devil and Wedge Tailed Eagle are protected under the federal Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation act, however the Regional Forest Agreement is exempt and allows for destruction of their habitat.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill.

“Peter Garret must intervene to up hold the EPBC and end the extinction experiment that the RFA is responsible for.”

“David Bartlett is making a mockery of the EPBC by allowing wholesale destruction of Endangered Species habitat in the irreplaceable old growth forest of Tasmania.”

“If the federal government were serious about endangered species protection they would immediately put a stop to logging in endangered species habitat.” Concluded Mr Hill.