Bob Brown confident on forest protest law win ahead of High Court hearing in Canberra

FORMER Greens leader Bob Brown is confident of convincing the High Court to scrap Tasmania’s anti-protest laws, which he argues are draconian and undemocratic.

FORMER Greens leader Bob Brown is confident of convincing the High Court to scrap Tasmania’s anti-protest laws, which he argues are draconian and undemocratic.

The landmark case, due to begin in Canberra today, stems from Dr Brown’s arrest while filming a video about an anti-logging protest at Lapoinya State Forest in Tasmania’s North-West in January 2016.

“We’re here to defend the right of all Australians into the future to be able to show environmental destruction where it takes place,” he told reporters outside the court.

“We were very well aware that if we didn’t challenge these draconian penalties they were going to defray ordinary members of the public from being involved in peaceful forest protest in Tasmania.”

Dr Bob Brown, right, talks to a Tasmania Police officer before being arrested at Lapoinya in Tasmania’s North-West. n in the Lapoinya Coupe. Picture: BOB BROWN FOUNDATION

While police have dropped criminal charges against Dr Brown, he wants the High Court to overturn Tasmanian laws targeting protesters who can be fined up to $10,000 and jailed for four years.

MORE: LAPOINYA PROTEST CHARGES DROPPED

The Human Rights Law Centre has filed submissions to the court supporting Dr Brown’s case, arguing Tasmania’s laws are intended to shut down vital debate and prioritise business interests above the rights of protesters.

The Tasmanian Government has argued it is taking a narrow approach through the laws, targeting only business premises.

But Dr Brown argues this is a nonsense, with the laws including public forests and other potential landscapes eyed off by resource-hungry companies.

“These laws are to prevent the public knowing what’s going on behind the locked gates of forestry activities, specifically in Tasmania, which are destroying the habitat of rare and endangered species as well as magnificent forests,” he said.

The hearing is expected to run for about two days.