Court action to continue after former Greens leader Bob Brown arrested at swift parrot protest
The Bob Brown Foundation’s court action against logging in the Eastern Tiers has continued, only days after Dr Brown was arrested twice in 48 hours for protesting. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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THE Bob Brown Foundation has lodged an injunction in the Federal Court in a continued protest against logging in the habitat of the critically-endangered swift parrot.
It follows Dr Brown being arrested twice within 48 hours this week during protest action at a forestry site in Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers.
He was among seven protesters arrested for obstructing logging operations in the area.
A case has been listed on Tuesday in the Federal Court.
“The Eastern Tiers forest block, including Lost Falls, Mt Morriston and Snow Hill, east of Campbell Town, has been identified as important habitat by scientific experts,’’ Bob Brown Foundation campaign manager Jenny Weber said.
“Nevertheless, it is being logged right now or is to be logged in the near future.
“The Swift Parrot, which migrates from the southeastern mainland to nest in Tasmania each summer, is the fastest parrot on Earth but is suffering a collapse in numbers.”
Ms Weber said state and federal governments were failing to adequately protect Australia’s threatened wildlife species.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett this week described the protest action as “an outrageous attack on Tasmanian jobs”.
“Our Government supports the right to protest peacefully but dangerous and threatening actions cannot be tolerated and at a time when we desperately need to protect jobs and regional economies, it is not acceptable for the Greens to promote invading a legitimate workplace to try to stop hardworking Tasmanians earning a living,’’ he said.
Brown arrested again after returning to protest
CONSERVATIONIST Bob Brown has been arrested for a second time in 48 hours after returning to protest against logging in the habitat of the critically-endangered of swift parrot.
Dr Brown and two others were arrested and charged on Wednesday morning during protests at a forestry site in Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers.
“I’m here at Lost Falls forest again for the swift parrots and multiple other creatures living here,” Dr Brown said prior to the protest.
“Police have arrested and charged three people following a protest at Tombs Lake this morning,” police said soon after.
“A 75-year-old man from Cygnet and a 42-year-old woman from Blackmans Bay have both been charged with Trespass. A 72-year-old man from Crabtree has been charged with Trespass and Wilfully Obstruct Police.”
They were bailed to the Hobart Magistrates Court on March 31 next year.
The Bob Brown Foundation identified the trio as Dr Brown, the Foundation’s campaign manager Jenny Weber and retired organic gardener Kevin Vaughan.
Dr Brown said he would not be deterred from his campaign.
“I slept out last night under a logging bulldozer which had invaded the Lost Falls forest where, this morning, we saw owls and I heard one of the 300 remaining swift parrots,” he said.
“Citizens are doing the job of parliamentarians who can protect all habitat for the critically endangered swift parrot instead of feeding their homes to the woodchippers.”
Premier Peter Gutwein late Wednesday expressed surprise Dr Brown had been arrested again.
“You would have thought at his age he would have been smart enough to learn from what occurred yesterday,” he said.
Mr Gutwein said the government has set aside 10,000 hectare of swift parrot habitat from logging.
“Right down the East Coast we have more forests that are protected than are available for logging” he said.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said it was not enough and forestry operations should be stopped in all areas of swift parrot habitat.
“These forests are critical habitat for a beautiful bird the fastest parrot on earth the swift parrot which scientists tell us is down to around 300 individual birds.
“It’s important that Tasmanians understand this is the Gutwein government making a decision: it’s a policy decision to keep logging the habitat of one of the rarest birds on earth. This is on Peter Gutwein’s head.”
Birdlife Tasmania’s Eric Woehler said he despaired for the future of the swift parrot.
“We’re now seeing critical nesting and feeding habitat being destroyed during the breeding season — not even waiting for the end of the breeding season,” he said.
“There can be no doubt that the Tasmanian government’s preference is for the swift parrot to go extinct.”
Resources Minister Guy Barnett described the protests as “an outrageous attack on Tasmanian jobs”.
And Forest Products Association CEO Nick Steel rejected what he described as “attention-grabbing stunts” and said the causes for swift parrot population decline were not as simple as some people made out.
“The causes of decline in swift parrot populations are complex and include nest predation by sugar gliders, collision mortality, competition from other bird species, climate variability and change, and illegal wildlife capture and trading, as well as habitat loss,” he said.
EARLIER: Conservationist Bob Brown and others have returned to the site of his arrest less than 24 hours after his arrest for trespassing yesterday.
Brown and two others were arrested and charged yesterday morning during at a forestry site on Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers.
“I’m here at Lost Falls forest again for the Swift Parrots and multiple other creatures living here,” a statement from Brown read this morning.
“This is part of a rolling campaign to turn back the needless invasion of these public forests.”
The demonstration is against the logging of habitat of endangered Swift Parrots.
The demonstration has been condemned by Resources Minister Guy Barnett and industry heads.
LOGGING LOBBY SAYS SWIFT PARROT DEMISE ‘COMPLEX AND VARIED’
THREE people have been charged and released from police custody including high-profile conservationist Bob Brown after being arrested while protesting to protect swift parrot habitat in a forestry area.
The Bob Brown Foundation said the former Greens leader and three other people who were locked on to logging machinery, halting all work, were arrested and taken to the Swansea police station.
Brown, Lucy Landon Lane and Alexandra Chernov were all charged with trespassing, with 16-year-old Harriet O’Shea given a warning, before all four were released later on Tuesday afternoon.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett said it was “extremely disappointing” to hear of the protest action.
“These dangerous protest actions cost Sustainable Timber Tasmania, private contractors and individual workers thousands of dollars every day, and require police to redirect resources from important community safety activity to remove people from machinery and gates,” Mr Barnett said.
“These dangerous protest actions cost Sustainable Timber Tasmania, private contractors and individual workers thousands of dollars every day, and require police to redirect resources from important community safety activity to remove people from machinery and gates,” he said.
Tasmanian Forest Products Association CEO Nick Steel said the causes of decline in swift parrot populations were complex and varied.
“As an industry we are progressive and always looking to improve,” he said.
“That’s why we support things like the Public Authority Management Agreement between DPIPWE and STT for the protection and management of swift parrot habitat on Permanent Timber Production Zone Land in the Southern Forests.
“The PAMA provides certainty for the timber industry and benefits the critically endangered Swift Parrot, which will be further protected with almost 10,000 hectares of potential nesting habitat to be excluded from wood production under the agreement.”
EARLIER: FORMER Greens leader and high-profile conservationist Bob Brown has been arrested in Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers while protesting to protect swift parrot habitat in a forestry area.
A video posted to Twitter shows a Tasmania police officer arresting Brown.
A Tasmania Police officer is shown informing Brown – who is perched on a pile of logs – that he is liable arrest for trespassing if he does not leave.
Brown attempts to argue.
“Well you say so,” Brown tells the police officer.
“Do you clearly understand that you haven’t yet told me where this land lies.”
Brown told the officer he was not going to leave as he was looking after a friend, who also appeared to be protesting.
It was at that point Brown was arrested and he is shown calmly leaving the scene with the officer.
Breaking news - Bob Brown arrested in Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers, defending critically endangered Swift parrot habitat. #politas #auspol pic.twitter.com/BkF0bYnZib
— Bob Brown Foundation (@BobBrownFndn) December 15, 2020
“You’re under arrest old mate,” the officer is heard saying.
Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor were also at the protest and were moved on by police.
There’s an estimated 300 Swift parrots left on the planet, & the #politas Government is still logging their habitat.
— Cassy O'Connor 🀠(@CassyOConnorMP) December 15, 2020
Today, @SenatorSurfer, @giblinite & I visited the gutsy forest defenders in the eastern tiers.
Heartfelt thanks to @BobBrownFndn for their tireless work. 🦜 pic.twitter.com/UpSOGMn5Ak
The Bob Brown Foundation said three other people still remain locked on to logging machinery, halting all work.
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