Former Greens Leader and Senator Bob Brown was arrested in Tasmania’s northeast highland forests again this morning, twenty-four hours after his first arrest for stopping logging of Swift Parrot habitat.

In a significant act of defiance, Brown was arrested with two fellow forest defenders - Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber and retired Organic Gardener Kevin Vaughan.

Brown was released on bail to appear in Hobart’s Magistrates court on March 31st, 2021.

Speaking outside Bicheno police station Brown said, “Much bigger protests will put an end to native forest logging across Australia. As with whaling in 1978, the rising public animosity to destruction of wildlife habitat and the forests themselves will end this completely unnecessary and jobs-sparse industry in coming years.”

“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. It was rainy, with temperatures down towards zero, but we were content just to know the Swift Parrot habitat destruction was slowed by us being there,” Bob Brown 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. Along with many others, I’m dedicated to halting logging of these wildlife-rich native forests in this age of climate and biodiversity crisis while the agents of extinction authorise the ongoing destruction of nature,” Jenny Weber said.

Bob Brown Foundation forest defenders have returned to contentious Eastern Tiers forests after three arrests yesterday. Logging of habitat for critically endangered Swift Parrots has been halted for a second day.

"I’m here at Lost Falls forest again for the Swift Parrots and multiple other creatures living here. This is part of a rolling campaign to turn back the needless invasion of these public forests. Premier Gutwein needs to put an end to his invasion of the people’s public forests and the extermination of its wildlife," Bob Brown said.

“There is still time to protect these native forests we are occupying. The hollow-bearing trees around us are critical for Swift Parrots that are on the brink of extinction. Citizens are holding off the destruction of native forests in this climate and biodiversity crisis,” Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager said.

"The annihilation of the last tracts of remaining critical habitat for endangered species is unacceptable. It is deplorable. Scott Morrison and his government have the power to protect the future of this federally listed species. The government needs to now stand up and do its job in protecting this habitat," Erik Hayward, Campaign Organiser for Bob Brown Foundation said.

Today Bob Brown has been arrested halting logging in North East Tasmania. The forest is documented habitat for the critically endangered Swift Parrot. Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O'Connor joined Bob Brown in the contentious forest but have been moved on after being given a police direction. Three other people still remain locked onto logging machinery, halting all work.

“Here in the forest alongside me, is a 16-year-old woman showing more gumption for Australia’s environment than a Prime Minister. Not yet old enough to vote but more intelligent and caring than the whole of Morrison’s cabinet room put together,” Bob Brown said.

“I’m here today because it is my moral duty to protect these amazing native forests and wildlife, particularly the critically endangered Swift Parrots. I’m fighting to protect this land for the future generations and people less fortunate than me. Climate change is a human rights issue and I’m fighting for the people who need a safe climate," said Harriet O'Shea, one of the three Australian Climate Strike co-initiators.

"More spin and announcements from Prime Minister Morrison today but still no answer as to who will pay for the unnecessary and economically unviable Project Marinus and Battery of the Nation. All these announcements are to build momentum for the idea that these projects are inevitable and going ahead in spite of no cost sharing agreements being signed for the $7.1billion they are estimated to cost. The only costs being announced are to the taxpayers and people of Tasmania via a $93.9m convertible loan," said Bob Brown Foundation Director Christine Milne.

"Make no mistake, this is a Debt Debt Debt disaster for Tasmania to finance a white elephant. Remember they said same things about Basslink and they were wrong. How exactly will it drive down electricity prices when the experience is that Tasmania follows Victorian prices because of Basslink? It will be even more so with Marinus? AEMO has included Marinus and Battery of the Nation in its ISP on assumption that Tasmania will overbuild renewable energy at its own cost via a cost sharing arrangement and that energy will be available at low cost to the NEM. It It is an investment that Tasmanians have to build in the first place and work out who will pay for that build," said Ms Milne.

"Tasmania has 100% renewable energy. The mainland is well on the way to a 100% transition to renewables and batteries are flying down the cost curve to provide storage. Just yesterday Portland Aluminium entered a contract to provide storage and energy services Victorians. Batteries on the mainland have already leapfrogged Tas Hydro storage services. We don’t need to spiral into huge debt and destroy our environment to send energy to the mainland when it is not needed to achieve climate or renewable energy goals. Industrialising the north of the state for private sector profits in wind farms, subsidised from our own pockets, is not in Tasmania’s interests. Already TasNetworks has $2b borrowings, Hydro has signed onerous contracts with Granville Wind and Aurora has signed same with Cattle Hill. Exactly how many more millions are Tasmanians expected to throw at these private sector developments?" concluded Ms Milne.

This morning, Bob Brown Foundation has halted logging in Swift Parrot habitat in Tasmania's North Eastern Tiers. Three people are locked on to a log loader. Bob Brown has joined forest defenders to stop the destruction of this critically endangered species' home.

"Despite the world's fastest parrot plummeting towards extinction, the trees in Tasmania's north east hills are being logged from underneath it. Despite last week's diabolical news from Australian National University research that a few hundred, not thousands, Swift Parrots remain alive, the destruction of their habitat goes ahead under federal and state direction, " said Bob Brown.

"Last week a few very thoughtful people risked arrest by peacefully objecting to this needless destruction in the Eastern Tiers. In fact, one brave woman was arrested. For the sake of the Swift Parrots, I have decided to join the campaigners this week. Our aim is simple, to stop the destruction of the Swift Parrot by rescuing their habitat. Scott Morrison won’t do it. Peter Gutwein wants more native forests felled. So it is up to us," said Dr Brown.

New federal legislation to allow logging of native forests despite current court rulings of illegality is a rort against the majority of Australians who want the forests and wildlife saved, former Greens leader Bob Brown said today.

“The nation will have all summer to see how Bridget McKenzie's bill to exempt clearfell destruction of forests from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is no less than the nationals doing the bidding of the powerful logging industry.

Prime Minister Morrison should clear the air and assure Australia that this bill does not have his support.

The global extinction crisis should see this bill replaced with one to end all native forest logging as New Zealand did decades ago," said Bob Brown.

The Bob Brown foundation held a rally in Hobart today to oppose current logging of Tasmanian forest which are the feeding and nesting habitat of the critically endangered Swift Parrot. There are now less than 300 Swift Parrots left in the wild.

Bob Brown Foundation has carried out a two day frontline protest campaign in Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers. Logging was halted for two days in nesting habitat of the critically endangered Swift Parrot.

Tasmania Police this morning evicted a group of citizens who halted the logging of forests where Swift Parrots have been observed and nesting habitat is being logged, predominantly for woodchips.

The Foundation will tomorrow host a demonstration on Hobart’s Parliament lawns to call on Premier Gutwein to immediately halt all logging in Swift Parrot habitat and protect all their breeding habitat in secure conservation reserves.

“It’s a global atrocity that the Australian and Tasmanian governments are choosing to destroy habitat for the critically endangered Swift Parrot. When governments fail to act for wildlife protection and forest conservation in this age of climate and biodiversity emergency, we will take action on the frontline to defend these forests,” the Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“What we are witnessing in the native forests behind Freycinet National Park is the ongoing relentless removal of habitat for the Swift Parrot. It is this logging that has meant we have just hundreds, not thousands of the fastest parrot in the world left in the wild. It is criminal that the governments continue to sanction this logging and push the Swifties to extinction,” Jenny Weber said.

Eight people are occupying a contentious logging area in Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers this morning after a forest defender was arrested there yesterday.

“It is beyond belief that the habitat of the critically endangered Swift Parrot is being lost to logging. Logging the Swift Parrot to extinction is a choice by Tasmanian Premier Gutwein and Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

"Swift Parrots are present in the logging area this morning. This logging and all logging in native forests needs to cease. For climate, endangered species protection and the economy, ending native forest logging is urgently needed," said Ms Weber.

Bob Brown Foundation is taking a robust approach to protect the Antarctic with two new campaigners; Alistair Allan and Carola Rackete. These new positions will enable Bob Brown Foundation to extend its campaigning beyond Australia to protect the world's greatest wilderness area, Antarctica and its ocean. The impetus for BBF’s expansion to include an Antarctic campaign was a bequest from the late scientist and environmentalist Dr Louise Crossley, the second Australian woman to lead an Antarctic station.

"In this age of climate emergency and extinction crisis, what happens to Antarctica affects all 8 billion people on the planet. Operating out of the Antarctic gateway of Hobart, we aim to challenge the multiple threats to Antarctica and to pursue its rightful status as the world’s premier natural World Heritage property", said Bob Brown.

Alistair Allan has campaigned for the Antarctic with Sea Shepherd for many years and will now lead the BBF campaign from Hobart. With a strong focus on Australia's close links the Antarctic, the initial campaign Alistair will be involved in is calling for the immediate halt to the construction of the Great White Continent's first concrete runway, near Australia's Davis base.

Mr Allan said, "The Antarctic and its oceans are a unique wilderness that deserves unique protection. This campaign will call upon the Australian public and Government to recognise our duty to become environmental champions for the Antarctic, not villains."

"The 2.7km long, monstrous runway that the Australian Government proposes to construct will increase humanity's disturbance footprint in the Antarctic by a whopping 40%. It will also cause major negative impacts to nearby penguin and seal colonies. I am confident that the Australian public does not want this environmental disaster on their hands.

Carola Rackete spent eight seasons in the Antarctic, working for the German and British polar research institute and Greenpeace. She holds a master's degree in nature conservation and is based in Europe and will work on an international campaign to develop new approaches to guarantee the long term protection of the Antarctic and its wildlife.

Ms Rackete said, "The Antarctic continent and the Southern Ocean are important for the stability of our planet's climate and therefore directly linked to the future of all living beings on this planet. The region's unique wildlife will not be able to adapt on a heating planet, which is why we have to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions and protect wildlife from industrial exploitation.”

Protests have been carried out this morning in critically endangered Swift Parrot habitat that is being lost to logging in Tasmania and NSW.

On the NSW south coast an alliance of groups representing local, regional and state wide forest conservationists, are taking action today. South East Forest Rescue, Forest Defence NSW and Friends of the Forest Mogo are halting logging in an area that contains feeding and habitat trees for the parrots.

On Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers, Bob Brown Foundation halted logging in forests where the Swift Parrot has settled to breed this season. Tasmania’s globally renowned East Coast overlooking Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet peninsula is again under threat from a heavily industrialised logging onslaught.

“The demise of the Swift Parrot around Australia is a devastating reminder that we need to take action immediately to protect our last remaining natural places,” said BBF Campaign Organiser Erik Hayward.

“All logging in Swift Parrot habitat needed to end five years ago when the fastest parrot on Earth was listed as critically endangered. It needed to halt last week when experts revealed the parrot's numbers are as low as 300 in the wild. Secure conservation reserves need to be installed to protect species on the brink of extinction,” BBF Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

In NSW, Friends of the Forest (Mogo) spokesperson Jos said locals are outraged at logging of swift parrot habitat following the ferocious fires the community had endured.

A Friends of the Forest (Mogo) inspection on Friday 4 December documented unburnt forest logged with multiple trees cut down and a Nectar tree marked for protection under Swift Parrot prescriptions pushed over.

“With university research news last week that Swift Parrots number less than 300, it is criminal that the nectar tree marked for protection by Forestry was pushed over in the logging operation," said Jos.

"It is unacceptable that logging would continue in key habitat areas of the Swift Parrot. Surrounding forests were burnt in last summer's fires. Now Forestry Corporation is allowing remaining wildlife refuge areas to be destroyed. We have time to save this species if we act now to protect habitat, otherwise, we risk another extinction" said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Forest Defence NSW.

“In Tasmania’s Eastern Tiers, forests have been verified as a core habitat area for the Critically Endangered Swift Parrot by the same government who is sanctioning logging of these hollow bearing trees. This critical habitat is being logged for wasteful woodchips. Sus Timber Tasmania’s own documentation shows that 70% of these forests are heading straight to the chip pile,” Erik Hayward said.

“We will not sit and watch while yet another species is wiped off the face of this planet for the greed of the few. Silence is complicit,” Erik Hayward said