Tasmania Police have suddenly dropped serious charges against Tasmanian environmentalists Bob Brown, Lucy Langdon Lane, Gabbi Knox and Kevin Vaughan. The four were arrested for alleged trespass when peacefully defending Swift Parrot habitat from being logged in the Eastern Tiers, near Swansea, in December 2020. The charge carries a potential penalty of six months in jail. Last week, on 22 March 2022, the charges were listed for a three day hearing before Magistrate Marron commencing on 25 May. On 22 March, the police prosecutor indicated that validating legislation was being considered by the government in relation to the charges.

Tasmania Police have not given a reason for dropping the charges, after being asked in court today.

“I believe these logging operations were unlawful and could not withstand court scrutiny. Premier Gutwein must explain the need for validating legislation and why the charges were dropped,” Bob Brown says.

“The defendants have been through a lot and have a right to know. The wider public also has a right to know.”

“It would not be the first time in Tasmanian history in which arrogant government has required validating legislation after exceeding its powers to destroy our island’s heritage.”

“Forestry Tasmania has form on illegal logging. For example in 2005, amidst the Wielangta case in the Federal Court, Forestry Tasmania cleared Swift Parrot habitat in a coupe subject to the court action.”

“Had we pleaded guilty, we faced jail. Having been repeatedly but falsely labelled ‘extremist radicals’ by Premier Gutwein, the charges were not dropped because he likes us. So we will not rest until he clears the air. There is something amiss here.”

“The apparent regulatory failure comes on the heel of the dropping of charges against 38 Bob Brown Foundation forest defenders in February this year when it was revealed Forestry Tasmania had not complied with its own legislation in closing Helilog Road in the takayna / Tarkine. The 38 were part of more than 600 environmentalists who have successfully, if temporarily, stopped MMG from going ahead with a toxic waste dump in the takayna / Tarkine rainforest.”

“Last year it was revealed that MMG had been bulldozing its way towards the dump site, which is habitat for the vulnerable Tasmanian Masked Owl, without federal permission - but no one at MMG has been charged.”

“This latest apparent regulatory failure also comes on the heels of Minister Guy Barnett having issued MMG an invalid mining lease in July 2021 to enable its destructive works in the takayna / Tarkine.”

“There is a need for an independent inquiry, with judicial powers, to sort out how this premier and government, under pressure from logging and mining companies, can have Tasmania in such a legal quagmire with huge unwarranted impacts on the environment and environmentalists’ lives.”

“Any attempt by Premier Gutwein to retrospectively validate his government’s failures should be thrown out by parliament,” Brown says.

The Federal Court has set Friday, 29th April to hear the Bob Brown Foundation’s request for an injunction against MMG’s intention to proceed with preliminary works on a toxic waste dump for tailings from its Rosebery mine to be deposited across Lake Pieman into the Tarkine rainforest.

In the court this morning, Judge Moshinsky set 18th July as the likely hearing date for BBF’s claim, backed by experts, that the waste dump threatens habitat critical to the Tasmanian Masked Owl which is vulnerable to extinction. Foundation experts have made multiple recordings of the owls in the forest which would be devastated by MMG’s proposal and says the owls use the forest for both nesting and feeding.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has given the go-ahead to MMG for preliminary works including 14 km road and 170 drilling sites in the contentious forests but did not require the giant Chinese government-owned mining corporation to present her with information on alternative tailings dam sites outside takayna / Tarkine or with progress on the ‘world’s best practice’ option of grinding the tailings to paste and putting that back underground in disused mine space. These options could give all parties a win-win outcome.

“The minister has thrown good environmental governance out the window and given MMG the nod to invade this rare owl sanctuary. Unlike the Tasmanian Masked Owls, the company has good, rational options. More than 70 good citizens have been arrested for doing the minister’s job and peacefully defending the owl’s forest - the charges were later dropped. It is appalling behaviour by both the federal and state governments when there is no need for MMG to invade the Tarkine,” Bob Brown said in Hobart after the hearing.

“MMG has had a decade to plan alternative waste disposal options but failed to do so. We are seeking this injunction because the company is so unreasonable it wants its bulldozers back in the Tarkine rainforest before the Federal Court hearing in July. This is bullying and unnecessary. We want the court to reasonably have MMG respect the need for the court to hear the matter first,” he said.

Bob Brown Foundation's frontline blockade defending the forests and owl habitat threatened by the proposed heavy metals waste dump has been in place since January 2022 and has had 650 people join the protest.

Tasmania's government joined the industries responsible for climate change and species extinction for their anti-protest laws announcement. In the third attempt after previous monumental failures, Premier Gutwein’s government are choosing to penalise Tasmania’s defenders over real and urgent climate action.

“This is Peter Gutwein following Paul Lennon and Robyn Gray in dancing to the jig of corporate exploiters against the wider public wish to keep Tasmania beautiful. I thought he knew better, but I was wrong,” said Bob Brown, Environmentalist and Patron of Bob Brown Foundation.

“Australia’s Liberal governments in Tasmania and NSW are hand-in-hand proposing harsher penalties on protesters who are calling for climate action. In both states, this move should be rejected by Labor. In a time when we face a brief, rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable future for all, governments need to choose climate action over penalising Earth defenders,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“Harsher penalties on citizens and non-governmental organisations for participation in non-violent protests is not the solution to the problems we face over logging, mining and Tasmania’s toxic salmon industry. Nature-based solutions – protecting native forests, takayna / Tarkine and marine environments for climate, wildlife and environmental benefits – are responses the majority of citizens want our governments to be legislating for,” Jenny Weber said.

Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) can confirm, following field assessments by its citizen scientists, that the Forestry Corporation NSW (FCNSW) is continuing to log native habitat trees within the public plantation estate, despite investigations undertaken by two certification schemes to which FCNSW is accredited.

“Remnant native forests inside plantations are important as they are connected with the surrounding native forest. They provide nutrients to the soil and important habitat for wildlife. They also help with soil and water retention. It’s not ok to log remnant forests, they are there for many reasons and forestry can’t just do as they please.”

Earlier this year, Accreditation Services International (ASI) conducted an assessment of operations in Tarkeeth State Forest, supplying Forest Stewardship Council-accredited plantation timber to Queensland Commodity Exports, a subsidiary of Victoria-based woodchipping giant Midway. ASI identified a range of risks associated with logging in Tarkeeth, including lack of stakeholder consultation and the potential for high conservation value areas, including koala habitat, to enter the QCE supply chain. QCE has since halted the receipt of timber from FCNSW.

On-ground assessments conducted by citizen scientists in Orara East State Forest have confirmed the presence of natural habitat and native forest trees inside the public plantation estate. Stop-work orders in several plantation areas, including Orara East SF, Boambee SF, Bulls Ground SF, and Newry SF. More areas are under investigation by teams active across the Mid North Coast. These areas are certified against the Australian Forestry Standard, overseen by Responsible Wood Australia.

“It seems incredible that NSW forestry would continue to log in areas where there are active allegations concerning the conversion of native forests to plantations and the removal of potential koala habitat. Forestry has already lost one customer and more will follow unless it lifts its game,” said BBF Campaigner Doro Babeck.

“This cuts to the very credibility of independent forest management certification. Everyone supports the use of plantation timber from sustainably managed areas, but what is happening inside our public plantations is far from sustainable,” Doro Babaeck said.

“We are calling for an immediate halt to logging in these areas and the protection of all remaining native forest inside and outside NSW plantations. Otherwise, how can the public have any confidence that timber sourced from NSW plantations is free of contamination from old-growth, rainforest and habitat trees?”

Bob Brown Foundation has joined with Brisbane based supporters in sending a message to potential investors that Venture Minerals’ plans to mine takayna/Tarkine has no social licence.

Venture Minerals’ who has plans to mine in reserved rainforest at Mt Lindsay and the Stanley River valley (Livingstone) was presenting at the Brisbane Mining investor conference. Bob Brown Foundation and takayna defenders in Brisbane have protested outside the conference, with two defenders taking to the stage with a banner during the keynote address of the conference.

“We think investors deserve to know that Venture Minerals is a toxic company so long as they have plans to mine in takayna/Tarkine, and so we are here to make sure they get that message”, said bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

“Venture’s plans will destroy some of the world’s best temperate rainforest and wipe out breeding and feeding grounds for the endangered species Tasmanian Devil, Spotted-tailed Quoll and Wedge-tailed Eagle”.

“This rogue, bottom of the barrel company whose nearby Riley Creek mine failed just months after starting, have already been prosecuted for Commonwealth environmental law breaches and its communications to shareholders have been blatantly dishonest. Investing in Venture Minerals is not just bad for takayna, it is likely the worst investment decision you could make”.

Over the past two years, Bob Brown Foundation has been protesting and stopping work at Venture Minerals mining and exploration operations and investor forums.

Today, forest defenders in Tasmania are carrying out a sit in protest using forest destruction sounds at the Hobart headquarters of Forestry Tasmania.

“We are protesting today calling for the protection of native forests as Forestry Tasmania have announced their intentions to incinerate 8000 hectares in their annual post logging burning season. The tragedy of Swift parrot forest logging has continued throughout their recent breeding season and ancient forest destruction continues today. Tasmania needs to move immediately away from this colossal decimation of our carbon stores and native forest protection is critically urgent,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

On Bathurst st, in front of their headquarters, a pile of native forest debris from a clearfelled Swift Parrot habitat. This pile represents such a small amount of their unsustainable logging practices. Burning 8000 hectares will burn 20 million times the amount of crushed habitat they can see this morning on their front door.

“Conserving forests is the fastest, most effective way to stabilize our climate. If Forestry Tasmania proceeds with this season of incinerating logged forests it will be another climate disaster,” Jenny Weber said.

“Using the terrified cries of the wildlife being crushed and burned we are using loud sounds in the offices to remind those overseeing the logging that native forest destruction is wildlife and climate destruction. Forestry Tasmania headquarters is filled with people who are complicit with the logging and incinerating of Tasmania’s native forests and we are here to interrupt their operations of destruction. Today they have no choice but face the screeches of wildlife they put at risk of extinction,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaigner Erik Hayward said.

“Last month’s IPCC Report gave us the brutal truth: we face “unavoidable multiple climate hazards” over the next two decades, and are entering an era that will expose millions of people to food and water insecurity, and will drive extinction of numerous animal and plant species,” Jenny Weber said.

“There is a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to take action on climate. This has to stop. The logging and incineration of 8000 hectares of native forests has to stop before it starts in the coming days. The Tasmanian skyline has filled with apocalyptic clouds of billowing smoke from toxic substances across logged forests has been going on for decades and it’s time to stop now,” Jenny Weber said.

Today Bob Brown Foundation supporters gathered on the steps of Tasmania's parliament to launch the new Seals Hotline and to call on the Tasmanian government to ban all cruel seal deterrents used by the Toxic salmon industry.

Members of the public and industry whistle-blowers are being encouraged to call the new hotline on 0472 507875 if they witness seal abuse by Tasmania's salmon industry.

"The shocking abuse of protected seal species at the hands of the Toxic Tasmanian salmon industry needs to end," says Rebecca Howarth, Fish Farms and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation. "Over a three-year period from 2018, over 75,000 seal deterrents were used against seals. Scientists have called for an investigation into the use of these deterrents but we want the government to go further and to ban them."

"Today we are launching our Seals Hotline so that the public can call in and report any abuse they have witnessed. This is not a wildlife rescue line, the public need to call the Marine Conservation Program if marine life needed rescuing or immediate assistance.

This is a new initiative for people to report wildlife abuse by Tasmania’s Salmon industry,” Bec Howarth said.

"Australian fur seals and rare Long-nosed fur seals are protected wildlife, but that doesn't stop the salmon industry from obtaining permits to shoot them with lead-filled projectiles and underwater bombs to scare them away. This unnecessary cruelty needs to stop. As well as launching our Hotline, we are here today to call on the Tasmanian government to ban all cruel seal deterrents,” Bec Howarth said.

Defenders of the critically endangered Swift parrot faced Hobart Magistrates court today. Bob Brown Foundation held protests in Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers in December 2020 to defend from logging, native forests habitat for the Swift parrots. Bob Brown, Kevin Vaughan, Lucy Landon-Lane and Gabbi Knox's case was adjourned until 25 May. Charges against Jenny Weber and Colette Harmsen were dropped today.

"The Swift parrot, which is the fastest parrot on the planet, is critically endangered. Logging of prime habitat is still occurring in Tasmania. While this atrocity continues to occur there will always be people prepared to stand and defend these incredible birds, no matter what the cost," said Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber.

Rose Sheehan also appeared in court today for a protest in takayna / Tarkine. Protesting against the proposed Venture minerals proposed tin mine in Australia’s largest temperate rainforest. After pleading guilty, Rose was fined $500.

“Venture Minerals tin mine at Mt Lindsay involves destruction of more than 70 hectares of prime rainforests and needs to be halted. takayna / Tarkine needs urgent protection and until it is given the protection it deserves, takayna defenders are the only ones standing up for these rainforests,” Jenny Weber said.

The Morrison government’s failure to protect Australia’s endangered wildlife has been confirmed by the Auditor General’s damning report released last Thursday.

“The appalling lack of monitoring most species, their habitats and threats show the Morrison Government is approaching the extinction crisis with dangerous neglect. Victims of this willful neglect are all vulnerable species, such as the critically endangered swift parrot, the largest barn owl in the world, Tasmania’s Masked Owl and even the iconic koala,” Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“Environment Minister Sussan Ley is fuelling the extinction crisis, of which Australia is the world leader. The list of grievances the Auditor General found is long and ranges from missing plans for vulnerable species, progress on action for protection not monitored nor tracked, lack of funding and more,” Doro Babeck, NSW Campaign Organiser with Bob Brown Foundation said today.

“Not only is Government totally failing to protect endangered wildlife with our environmental laws, taxpayer money is being wasted to fast track their extinction by supporting the loss making industry of native forest logging to the tune of $20m annually in NSW alone. If Australians fully understood, how the government is consciously throwing money to destroy habitat and forests, instead of protecting them, the public would be outraged,” says Doro Babeck, Bob Brown Foundation Campaigner. “Even businesses such as Queensland timber company QCE (Queensland Commodity Export) are pulling out of purchasing from Forestry Corporation NSW for their unsustainable practises, as was uncovered by stakeholders and Citizen Scientists. We clearly see that the government is not doing its job!”

“In Australia’s largest temperate rainforest, Tasmania’s takayna/Tarkine, the Tasmanian Masked owl is vulnerable to extinction and facing a proposal by Chinese state owned miner MMG to dump millions of tonnes of heavy metals waste dump in its habitat. It has been left to our environment organisation to survey the natural values threatened by this proposal and halt the machines from arriving by our blockade and non-violent direct action. While the Australian government hands wild nature and the wildlife to the destroyers,” Jenny Weber said.

“Ending native forest logging and deforestation for mining, instead protecting Australia’s vast tracts of wildlife rich carbon storehouses are critical solutions to the extinction and climate crises that Australia’s government is failing to do,” Jenny Weber said.