Anonymous for the Wild vandalising Parks and Wildlife Service signs to read ‘Privatising’ instead of ‘Parks’

A previously unknown activist group has been hitting some of Tasmania’s most wild places, and “rebranding” Parks and Wildlife Service signs. SEE THE VANDALISM >>

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A GROUP unhappy with the government’s policy allowing development in Tasmania’s national parks has been “rebranding” Parks and Wildlife Service signs.

Anonymous for the Wild says it is “an independent collaboration of Tasmanians that are fed

up with the disregard those in authority have for the single most precious asset

Tasmania has,” it said in a statement.

The group has been placing stickers on Parks signs replacing the official logo with a sticker reading: Tasmania Privatising Wilderness Service.

Conservationists are unhappy with the government’s Expressions of Interest process, which allowed developers to put forward proposals for national parks.

A proposal for Lake Malbena, in the state’s central highlands, has attracted significant opposition: including a pending appeal to the Full Court over development approvals.

Anonymous for the Wild said it was placing the stickers, to express dissatisfaction with the role of senior parks service leadership in implementing the policy.

“We have embarked on a project to rebrand the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service with more honest labelling that reflects their current policies on the custodianship of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

“We are now calling them the ‘PRIVATISING WILDERNESS SERVICE OF TASMANIA’. You will notice the rebranding statewide.”

Image of Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service signage in the Central Highlands which has been changed by the Group Anonymous for the Wild to read Tasmanian Privatisation Wilderness Service.

The group’s statement said the rebranding was directed at Parks leadership, rather than staff.

“The rangers statewide have our respect and our gratitude for dedicating their working lives to this Privatising Wilderness Service of Tasmania great service,” it said.

“However, we know many of these great people are deeply upset at the direction the PWS has embarked upon. We take this action for them.”

The statement said members of the group did not wish to reveal their identities because “we have jobs and families” and feared retribution.

They demanded an end to the EOI process, new leadership for the Parks Service and a review of the TWWHA management plan.

Last month, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment chief Tim Baker called on Parks staff to rally behind Jason Jacobi – even if they disagree with his leadership.

He said the director of the state’s parks service is the victim of a “targeted campaign seeking to tarnish his reputation.

A government spokesman declined to comment.

“It is completely inappropriate to comment on inaccurate and slanderous material written by an anonymous group,” he said.

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