The arrogant swagger of those who think they are above the law

FORESTRY TASMANIA staff were prevented from going to as a group of extremists laid siege to FT Hobart headquarters. It was the latest in a series of protests by the renegade group, Huon Valley Environment Centre throughout the state.
“Staff at FT again behaved impeccably, choosing to walk away rather than risk a confrontation,” said Bob Gordon, Managing Director, Forestry Tasmania.
“Contractors, their employees and our field staff have put up with this sort of extreme aggression from this group many times before. It has cost contractors, their employees and families thousands of dollars in lost income.”
He said there was deep frustration that one small group in the Tasmanian community seemed permitted to break the law with impunity. “Our staff and contractors have seen for themselves that charges are laid on some occasions, but not on others. They have seen those charged face court and be given little more than a slap over the wrist only to reappear to break the law again.
“At the latest siege, they witnessed the arrogant swagger of the organiser who directed the siege from the safety of the footpath, where she knew she couldn’t be arrested and charged with breaching bail conditions.
“To our staff, who are powerless to respond, there seems to be one law for some and another for others – or a set of rules that permit lawlessness for one group of individuals.
“There currently is no protection for people going about their lawful business. People who work at Forestry Tasmania are proud of who they are and what they do. They are proud that some of the areas clearfelled and regenerated 20, 30 and 40 years ago, have found their way onto the list of areas environmentalists want reserved for their conservation value,” Gordon said.
“Silently, they rejoice in recognition that areas once claimed by environmentalists to be devastated, are now seen by the same environmental groups as worthy of national park status.
“It is also worth asking how it is that more than a third of the area FT has been managing for 90 years is seen by some to have these high conservation values. If we had been destroying forests, as some claim, then surely after nine decades there would be nothing worth protecting.
“Another feather in the cap of FT staff and contractors. These people are the real heroes and they deserve the protection of government, police and the courts,” Gordon said.
Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings also condemned the latest protests.
“I support the right of people to protest but not where it prevents people from going about their lawful work,” Giddings said.
“The latest protest by the fringe group Still Wild, Still Threatened was unconstructive and directly undermines the goodwill that has been built up through the Statement of Principles process.
“Still Wild, Still Threatened were never part of that process and I understand they do not support it, but their views are not representative of the wider population who would like to see an end to conflict in our forests.
“Forestry Tasmania has played a positive role in discussions to date and is working proactively with the signatories to the Statement of Principles to identify areas of High Conservation Value native forest that could be protected in the long term.”
Giddings rejected suggestions that the agreed moratorium had not been honoured.
“We have delivered 100% of what was agreed to in the Statement of Principles – that is the protection of 98% of contentious high conservation value forests, with just 2% remaining to fill legally binding contracts and to keep forest workers employed.”
“It is a difficult and uncertain time for all in the forest industry and this is not helped when decent, hardworking employees are prevented from going about their work.”