Sky News, aka Australian News Channel, has apologised and will pay legal expenses after airing false allegations regarding Bob Brown and the Bob Brown Foundation.

Sky News host Rita Panahi has broadcasted the apology tonight. “This is a good outcome for Australia’s forests and wildlife. We will continue to tackle the grenophobes who try to misrepresent us. It is very encouraging,” Bob Brown said.

In a deed of agreement, published at the insistence of Brown, although Sky News wanted it kept secret, the relevant section reads:

ANC obligations.

3.1 Correction
ANC agrees to
(a) broadcast the Correction (spoken and written) during the course of the program hosted by Panahi on 18 June 2021;
(b) publish the correction on the ANC website at: https://more.skynews.com.au/corrections/
3.2 Legal costs
ANC agrees to pay $12,500 by way of electronic funds transfer to the trust account of Fitzgerald and Browne within 28 days of the date on which this deed is signed by both parties as a contribution towards Dr Brown’s and the Foundation’s legal costs of the Complaint.

This outcome follows an apology to the foundation, and agreement on costs, from Liberal Senator and Assistant Minister for Forests Jonathon Duniam who was interviewed by Panahi on the same programme.

“Public support for our foundation’s campaigns to protect the Tarkine rainforests and all other Australian forests is spiraling up, not least because we engage in peaceful protests. The forest loggers and wildlife killers invading the last of Australia’s native forests, pushing koalas, Swift Parrots and Masked Owls toward extinction, want to falsely paint peaceful protesters as violent. This outcome is because neither Senator Duniam nor Ms Panahi are able to debate the plight of Australia’s wild forests on its merits. They are out of touch with the Australian public’s wish to protect native forests,” Brown said.

Copy of the Sky News apology

Prominent Tasmanian farmer and businessman, Anthony Houston, was arrested today while halting work on a proposed tailings dam in the Tarkine rainforests. Mr Houston, 69, is the 29th person arrested over the past 31 days in this battle to protect ancient rainforests from a controversial proposal for a toxic waste dump by Chinese state-owned company MMG.

Mr Houston said "The message I want to give to all Australians is that it is really important to come and experience what is being lost. You can see it on TV or in a book but it is not the same. I could not believe the ancient trees they are knocking down. They are knocking over more in one day than I could plant in a year. Getting arrested was doing my part to help protect these forests. It’s like something from Lord of the Rings and we should not be losing places like this."

"Anthony is the heart and soul of middle Tasmania. This would have been a huge decision for him but he is putting Tasmania's global reputation for its wild and scenic beauty before his own. I hope Premier Peter Gutwein takes note," said Bob Brown.

"Our defence of takayna/Tarkine has seen a diverse group of Australians arrested for joining the peaceful actions to stop the machines tearing up the rainforest. We have seen a 77 year old retired French horn musician, medical students, veterinarians, football chums, tourism operators and now prominent farmer Anthony Houston. This groundswell of support is growing across the wider community with protestors coming from the dorm rooms to the board rooms and everywhere in-between," said takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

Farmer and businessman Anthony Houston has joined the protest over a controversial plan by mining company MMG to build a tailings dam in 285 hectares of rainforests in Tasmania’s takayna/Tarkine. Anthony Houston has this morning occupied a gate and is blocking access to the site.

While a Treesitter remains inside takayna/Tarkine’s threatened rainforests, this morning a group of protesters have set up a protest on the entrance road to the current site of MMG's roading operations and proposed toxic tailings dam in takayna/Tarkine for the 31st day of frontline action.

"I'm sitting here in the middle of the road to stop the operation of the Chinese state owned mining company that wants to destroy this ancient rainforest for a toxic tailings dam," said Mr Houston.

"I'm a farmer, I grew up with science, it's part of our lives. Yet when climate scientists warn us about climate change, we ignore them. I'm here because I want people to know that if we act together, we can stop this destruction,” said Mr Houston.

"People are outraged that Chinese state-owned MMG is seeking to destroy an area of World Heritage Value forest, and they are turning up in numbers to stand against it,” said Bob Brown Foundation’s takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

"To have prominent Tasmanian businessman Anthony Houston join us today sends an important message to Premier Gutwein. Preventing this tailings dam in takayna/Tarkine and protecting 500 000 hectares of this globally significant region is a win win solution for climate, Tasmania’s economy and can provide jobs and growth for this island,” said Scott Jordan.

Twenty eight citizens have been arrested over the past 31 days in Tasmania’s longest running environmental protest in decades.

takayna - a journey opens tonight

At the height of its biggest protest actions in takayna/Tarkine, the Bob Brown Foundation is launching a new art exhibition in Salamanca Arts Centre’s Long Gallery tonight.

Twenty one artists are exhibiting including high-profile Tasmanians Julie Gough, Peter Dombrovskis, Luke Tscharke, Paul Hoelen, Deb Wace, Rob Blakers, Selena De Carvalho and Matthew Newton.

The exhibition titled takayna - a journey, aims to showcase some of Australia's most talented artists who have all come together to not only celebrate the wonders and beauty of the Tarkine wilderness but also the threats.

“This is a story about a place where nature has evolved for millions of years. Its flora, lichens and fossils tell the story of the planet’s evolution. A landscape much unchanged since the ancestors of the Palawa walked upon these sands, vast cycles of connection, power and spirit. A place, that is right now, today, disappearing by the hand of the human race. We come from it, we connect with it, we defend it. This place is takayna,” said Campaign Manager Jenny Weber.

“We are using the great opportunity of large crowds in Hobart for Dark Mofo, that we might expose the threats to Australia’s largest temperate rainforests and Aboriginal living landscapes and the campaign to defend and protect this world heritage value takayna/Tarkine,” Jenny Weber said.

The exhibition will also debut the short film muntrikawripa, created by Andrew Phipps, Luke Tscharke and Paul Hoelen from Art for takayna 2021.

muntrikawripa is a spectacular gem of wilderness and indigenous culture, located on the remote west coast of takayna, lutruwita. This ancient indigenous landscape is remote, sacred, and incredible. However, takayna is under threat. It is under threat of logging, mining and damage by recreational 4x4's to thousands of years of indigenous culture and wilderness. The ethereal landscape of muntrikawripa is environmentally and culturally significant, and needs to be protected. In this vignette, hear the voices and perspectives of the palawa people, alongside passionate wilderness advocates as they spend time on country in muntrikawripa.

"I think this exhibition speaks volumes about the connections people have to the Tarkine and Tasmania’s wild lands as a whole. My work is a deep dive into the belly of Tasmania and seeks to ask the question; In a time when Tasmania is in a great state of change what is really going on here, and what does the way we treat the Tarkine ultimately say about us," said award-winning photographer Matthew Newton.

“It’s such an honour to be asked to showcase work along side such incredible artists all utilising thier mediums to fight for the same thing, the protection of takayna / Tarkine region as a world heritage area through photography I hope to help reveal the incredible , diverse beauty of this place sometimes even in the most unexpected forms," said photographer and professional surfer Dion Agius, who is exhibiting photographs in the exhibition.

Opening night Tuesday 15th June. Speakers include Jenny Weber, Nala Mansell from Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Theresa Sainty, a proud Palawa woman and Tasmanian actor Bonnie Sveen.

Exhibition will run from 16th June to 26th June at The Long Gallery, 77 Salamanca Place.

Exhibition pieces available for purchase and are raising funds for the Bob Brown Foundations campaign to defend and protect takayna/Tarkine.

Contributing Artists: 21 Australian Artists. Aliss Curtis, Andrew Phipps, Anna Brozek, Annette Day, Colin Schildhauer, David Aldous, Deb Wace, Dion Agius, Jonathon Falkce, Julie Gough, Kelly Slater, Luke Tscharke, Matt Newton, Maura Chamberlain, Orenda Joy Green, Peter Dombrovskis, Paul Hoelen, Ramji, Rob Blakers, Selena De Carvalho, Tim Cooper and Todd Jenkins .

Bob Brown Foundation is hosting waves of citizens showing up in takayna to protest for the protection of Australia’s largest temperate rainforests.

Two people this morning have attached themselves to MMG mining company’s machines that are carrying out road building for proposed drilling operations. The roading and drilling is in preparation for a shocking acidic heavy metal tailings dam in Tasmania’s takayna/Tarkine. Today’s protests follow three weeks of daily protests and twenty four arrests.

Bob Brown Foundation calls on Tasmanian Premier Gutwein to hear these citizens' urgent plea for protection of the world heritage value takayna and calling on MMG to leave the rainforest region and use an alternative option.

“I’m here to try and stop this destructive proposal to try and clear 285 hectares of pristine rainforest in takayna/Tarkine. It’s unbelievable this destruction is going ahead before approval has been given and that there are other options for this proposal,” said Terri Rattray, 75, while attached to a machine.

“I’m joining this frontline action to protect old growth forest in takayna because we’re facing a climate and ecological emergency and we can’t afford to lose it. Our government is failing to act so I feel a responsibility to make this stand. For the sake of our kids' future. For all the species on the brink of extinction. For the planet,” said Nat Pausin, 43, also attached to a machine.

Meanwhile, Anna Brozek is in a tree sit deep in the rainforests that are threatened by MMGs proposed acidic heavy metals tailings dam.

“I'm perched atop an ancient eucalypt today, in defiance, as the Tasmanian government is allowing this wilderness to be wiped from the face of the Earth. I’m surrounded by hundreds of giant myrtles, blackwoods and centuries-old ferns. Destroying this is especially unjustifiable when MMG, the mining company proposing to build a tailings dam right where I'm sitting, has other viable options in places that are not World Heritage Value forests,” said Anna Brozek.

“Given the blaring global climate emergency alarms, intact forests like those surround me need to be left standing, sequestering carbon and providing habitat, clean air and water,” Anna Brozek said.

Bob Brown Foundation's Tarkine campaign has headed into the threatened rainforest canopy with a new treetop occupation. We have established a tree sit in the middle of the 285 hectares of intact forests that our Foundation wants immediately protected as mining company MMG continues to push a road into for drilling.

“Today we are launching our new takayna defenders occupation, a tree sit in amongst the forests that are targeted by the Chinese state owned company MMG. The mining company wants to flatten for an acidic heavy metals tailings dam,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“It’s time to broadcast from the treetops to the whole world what the Australian and Tasmanian Governments are failing to protect in a World Heritage listed National Park,” Jenny Weber said.

“I am deep in takayna, surrounded by an ancient rainforest that MMG wants to flatten and replace with an acidic heavy metals tailings dam. High in the canopy of an ancient forest is our tree sit,” said tree sit occupier Anna Brozek.

“These forests are habitat for rare and threatened species all around us that have been here living undisturbed for generations. At night the recurring call in the silent pitch blackness of a Masked Owl awakening for the night is a stunning shriek close by,” said Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Organiser, Erik Hayward.

“The rainforest is being reclaimed. The only option is for MMG to remove the machines from these lands, use one of its other existing sites or develop and repair its current leaking tailings dam issues. We will not stand down and let MMGs problem be shifted into a globally significant world heritage valued area. Australia’s largest temperate rainforests in takayna/Tarkine must not have any further incursions, loss or destruction and a protection order is needed to keep them intact,” said Erik Hayward.

“World Heritage value forests need to remain intact in this climate and biodiversity emergency. This is Aboriginal land. These are public forests. They need protection from mining and logging as the machines are on their edges inching every day closer to destroying more of these important forests. We have slowed them down with frontline protests every day for three weeks, but the destructive machines need to be permanently stopped and removed,”. Jenny Weber concluded.

Protestors have prevented the operation of earthmoving machinery at the site of MMG's proposed tailings dam site in takayna/Tarkine on day 25 of concerted action in defence of rainforests and heritage landscapes.

Protestor Martin Crothers has locked himself to an excavator preventing the clearing of forest and construction of roading supporting destructive exploration drilling on the site of the proposed MMG toxic tailings dam.

"The Tarkine forest is a precious part of nature that needs to be preserved. I'm putting my body in the way to prevent its destruction", said Mr Crothers.

"Over the past twenty-five days, we have seen over 100 people join the frontline defending this ancient and magnificent rainforest. The missing person is Sussan Ley", said takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

"This is an unfolding climate crime, a biodiversity crime, and a World Heritage crime, and we need the Environment Minister to take urgent action to protect takayna/Tarkine.  Australia’s largest temperate rainforests need MMG to move out and stay out."

A group of eight Tasmanians today joined day 24 of protests in takayna/Tarkine’s threatened rainforests, one member of the group Paul Costin refused to leave on a police order and was arrested.

“Our relentless campaign over twenty-four days is up against the Tasmanian Government rolling out police resources for the Chinese state owned MMG. They are continuing to evict peaceful protesters rather than halt the destruction of these rainforests. A win-win solution here is to halt the current destruction and MMG move out of takayna/Tarkine, the company has alternatives outside takayna/Tarkine and they need to address their serious problem of running out of room for toxic waste,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“Northeast Tasmanian tourism operators Gordon Cuff and Susie Aulich have launched the Activist Tourism Adventures to support our frontline campaigns in takayna/Tarkine. Kicking off today with Gordon’s university football club from the 1970s. It is a testament to takayna/Tarkine and its global significance that people from all walks of life and all over Tasmania and interstate are joining our campaign to defend and call for protection of takayna/Tarkine,” Jenny Weber said.

Gordon Cuff, unfortunately, could not join his former teammates due to his arrest at this contentious site some 2 weeks ago. He quipped, "We almost had the centre and forward lines. The six did take a sherrin in for company!”

“The Tarkine is a truly amazing place and deserves permanent protection from many perspectives. Being the largest temperate rainforest in Australia it has massive biodiversity value. Its massive carbon stores can go some way to mitigating the looming disaster that is climate change and its undisturbed forests a barrier to the ravages of bushfires in a warming climate. The area is rich in indigenous history and its flora, fauna and geological assets indicate clear links to Gondwana,” former Tasmanian Greens politician Paul 'Basil' O'Halloran, who was involved in the protest today.

“I am a nature-based tourism operator working in and around the Tarkine and my business, the many others like mine, depend on the area not being destroyed by mostly extractive industries like logging and mining. Hundreds of sustainable eco-friendly jobs depend on this unique and special place. Hundreds of leatherwood honey bee-keeping jobs have been permanently destroyed by logging already and they are continuing to be lost today, all for a loss-making taxpayer subsidised industry,” Paul "Basil" O'Halloran said.

“Tasmania has in the Tarkine what the rest of the world has largely lost but what the rest of the world wants to see and experience. Left intact, this area is part of my future and the future of my kids and grandkids,” Paul 'Basil' O'Halloran said.

A group of eight Tasmanians has today joined day 24 of protests in takayna/Tarkine. Including six former university football players from the '70s are reclaiming the public forests that have been shut down by the mining company MMG by walking down the road.

The group includes former Tasmanian Greens politician Paul "Basil" O'Halloran.

"In a climate crisis world, Tasmania is looking at allowing the clearing of a massive amount of rainforest for a Chinese state-owned company to dump toxic waste from a mine", said Mr Paul Costin.

Steve Smith said: “Everyone should be outraged by what is happening to the Tarkine rainforest for short term profit. I see this as a call to arms similar to the Franklin blockade 39 years ago.”

Penguin businessman, Terry "Ossie" Owens said: “I’ve just realised the Tarkine is the biggest temperate rainforest in Australia and needs protecting for my grandchildren. My parents arrived from England 75 years ago to this safe country: Australia with a wonderful environment. So it's time for me to look after it. I’m also disillusioned that a mining company can go into the Tarkine before federal approval given and are destroying it right now”.

Geard Leary said: “I came to support other folk down here but I have been bringing my geography students into the Tarkine over last 12 years and I’m aware of the significance of this the largest temperate rainforest in Australia. I can’t see any reason why native rainforest should be destroyed when other options are available. I do understand the importance of protecting this area”.

"Citizens are rallying to the defence of this incredible and ancient rainforest landscape. Paul and this group of university football friends are the latest of many who have come to stand in defiance of this destruction", said takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

Bob Brown Foundation’s Tarkine defenders were present, disruptive, and arrested today in takayna/Tarkine as Tasmania’s Minister for Mining visited contentious mining operations that have been hotly contested over the past days and months.

As Minister Guy Barnett visited the highly controversial MMG site in takayna today he was met by concerned citizens demonstrating peacefully. Meanwhile, nearby at the Venture Minerals Riley Creek site, Brightside Farm Sanctuary founder Emma Haswell was arrested, disrupting Minister Barnett’s planned visit.

“Today I was arrested for takayna/Tarkine. I have never gone to these lengths before but I found it an easy decision to make. I can’t comprehend what is going on. The Tarkine is, I believe, the most beautiful forest in the world and is home to an incredible array of endangered animals and unique plants including the largest flowering plants on the planet. My hope is my actions will inspire others to stand up for the Tarkine," said Emma Haswell

"Our Tarkine defenders are relentless, our campaign will not back down. At every step of the way Minister Barnett will feel the power of this community action to defend and protect our wild places," said Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber.