Loggers’ discrimination case against Bob Brown Foundation dismissed

A 16-month long discrimination case filed by logging supporters against the Bob Brown Foundation has been dismissed. What the anti-discrimination commissioner had to say.

Tensions between the Huon Valley logging industry and the Bob Brown Foundation had been high ever since the May forestry coupe protest pictured above. Picture: BBF.

Tasmanian loggers have had their discrimination complaint against Bob Brown Foundation staff dismissed by the Anti-discrimination Commission.

The complaint relates to a June 2023 incident where logging industry members, including complainant Tammy Price – who also acted on behalf of Gerard Bennett, attended a Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) film screening at the Palais Theatre in Franklin.

BBF organisers and protesters clashed outside the 250-strong event as protesters tried to enter the venue with tickets that the BBF had cancelled and refunded.

Protesters also held banners with the message ‘Loggers Lives Matter’.

Pro-logging protesters were denied entry to a film screening put on by the Bob Brown Foundation in June last year. Picture: Bob Brown Foundation

After being denied entry, Ms Price filed a complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Commission alleging discrimination based on their political association with the Liberal Party.

Ms Price also stated she and other protesters were “aggressively blocked, pushed, shoved and yelled at” outside the screening venue.

Anti-discrimination Commissioner Sarah Bolt found the refusal of entry was not based on political discrimination, rather their known disruption at a previous event and known plans to disrupt the June film screening.

“The difference of political belief is essentially irrelevant to the conduct,” she said.

“I am aware the parties hold distinctly different political views, however it does not automatically follow that the actions alleged are then discriminatory in nature.”

Tensions between the Huon Valley logging industry and the Bob Brown Foundation had been high ever since the May forestry coupe protest pictured above. Picture: BBF.

One of the accused BBF staffers and campaign manager Jenny Weber said the “ridiculous complaint” was a waste of the Commissioner’s time investigating over the past year.

“The attempt to smear Bob Brown Foundation members with ludicrous accusations has failed,” she said.

“The logging industry in Tasmania is continually seeking new ways to harass and intimidate environmentalists.”

Logging industry protester and Bennetts logging manager Tammy Price said she would not appeal the Commissioner’s decision.

“As a small family business, we did not have access to the level of resources the Bob Brown Foundation has to continue with this complaint,” she said.

“In the end, the interests and welfare of our families and workers is far more important to us than attempting to shed a light on the continued discrimination that timber communities are subjected to by the Green media machine, with funds raised under the guise of a charity.“

Bob Brown Foundation campaign manager Jenny Weber and a pro-forestry protester confront each other at a movie screening in 2023. Picture: Bob Brown Foundation

Originally published as Loggers’ discrimination case against Bob Brown Foundation dismissed