New legislation to be submitted to the NSW upper house tomorrow severely threatens the future of Australia's koala.

“The bill, submitted by the National party, will remove critical environmental protections on private land allowing loggers and developers free reign to clear koala habitat. Ignoring an Upper House inquiry in June this year which found that koalas will become extinct by 2050 unless urgent government action is taken to protect this iconic species,” said Doro Babeck, Campaign Organiser Bob Brown Foundation.

"Koala’s are on the brink of extinction and this bill needs to be defeated in the Upper House. If passed, the NSW government will send the koala to extinction in the state — this bill needs to be thrown out.

Each day a decision is made to push ahead with development approvals, mining and land clearing in koala habitat, koalas die. The Brandy Hill Quarry decision in Port Stephens will see 65 hectares of prime koala habitat gone. The Figtree Hill development in Campbelltown is killing koala habitat for the healthiest koala colony in our state. In the Coffs Harbour hinterland we see private forests where koalas are present, logged for wood chips. Koalas are dying everywhere. And this bill will erase any hard fought protection over the last decade, which was not even enough to stop them from becoming extinct," said Doro Babeck.

"The global community has given generously during the bush fire crisis to help local wildlife, including the koala, after witnessing them burning alive across social media. Now communities across the globe will hear that we are accelerating logging in remaining healthy forests for toilet paper production. This is a global let down, resonating among koala lovers across the world. NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, claims she will not let the koala become extinct, yet she makes all these decisions which will fast track their demise," concluded Ms Babeck.

This Sunday night will see the premiere of new film, Forest Defenders - The Fight for Tasmania's native forests.  An environmental documentary of the Bob Brown Foundation’s last 12 months of frontline direct action against Tasmania's voracious native forest logging industry.  

“Our new film will inspire and recruit more volunteers to support or take part in our coming summer of forest protests,”  said Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager. 

"At the Bob Brown Foundation, we are preparing to get back into takayna/Tarkine to blockade threatened rainforests.  We will also be rolling out a summer of frontline action across Tasmania’s native forests.  Now we have the perfect recruitment tool to inspire citizens to join our action-oriented organisation.  

At the Foundation we are committed to defending and protecting native forests with non-violent direct intervention," said Jenny Weber. 

"2020 has seen our most intense season of forest frontline action yet.  We are the leaders in action for native forests in Tasmania and we share this effort with many many volunteer defenders.  Hundreds of volunteers participated in the Sumac Ridge Blockade, the shut down of Ta Ann's veneer mill, held multi-day occupations and disruptions of logging operations in Que River, Pieman, Wentworth Hills and Mt Field areas. 

Through it all the cameras were rolling. Activist film makers have spent the last few months collating and editing this footage and interviews with activists over the summer into a feature film Forest Defenders, The Fight for Tasmania's native forests," said Scott Jordan, takayna/Tarkine campaigner. 

Hundreds of people have tickets to Sunday night’s online premiere this Sunday 8th November.

Forest Defenders: The fight to protect Tasmania’s native forests, takes you straight to the frontline where ordinary people are stepping up, joining Bob Brown Foundation to protect some of the most incredible forests in the world from the archaic practice of native forest logging.

Register here to join us for the premiere:

https://bit.ly/2INAmhZ

Trailer for film here:

https://youtu.be/VvCvgT6Epoo

Hobart’s and Australia’s reputation as a bulwark for the environment of Antarctica is at stake after the controversial killing machine, the Antarctic Aurora docks in Hobart today.

“Antarctica and sub-Antarctic oceans are complex ecosystems that need protection from longline fishing for toothfish. This ship is unashamedly on its way to plunder Antarctica’s marine ecosystem for private profit,” Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“We appealed through letters to the Prime Minister and Tasmanian Premier to urgently ban this Antarctic longline fishing ship from Hobart and all Australian ports. They have failed to prioritise the protection of the Great White Continent and its oceans,” Jenny Weber said.

“What happens in Antarctica has a critical impact on the global climate and Bob Brown Foundation is on the road to launch a campaign to fight for Antarctica’s protection from marauding ships such as the Antarctic Aurora. Its presence in Hobart will give us a good target to highlight the problems which continue to destroy the great southern Oceans wildness,” Jenny Weber said.

“The Antarctica Aurora is part-owned by former Japanese whalers. This longline ship has no place in Australian waters or any global oceans. Earth’s oceans are in urgent need of preservation of the remaining life left in them,” Jenny Weber said.

‘Save us from Bravus’

“The Adani corporation’s name change in Australia from ‘Adani’ to ‘Bravus’ won’t improve its global reputation for being an environmental monster in this age of climate emergency and extinction crisis,” Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

“A new anti-Adani slogan is ‘SAVE US FROM BRAVUS,” he said.

“This must be humiliating for Gautam Adani, the multi-billionaire owner of the mine works in Central Queensland. He is admitting that his name is poison for the public and potential investors alike.”

“Yet he doesn’t get it. It is a game change, not a name change, that is required - and that means stopping his mine and getting out of dirty, polluting coal altogether. That would take an integrity which Adani by any name, from Goa to the Galilee Basin, lacks. The public will think even less of Adani for this failed bit of window dressing en route to his Queensland mine becoming a stranded asset,” Brown said

The Bob Brown Foundation has welcomed 250 doctors appealing to Premier Gutwein for protection of Tasmania's forests in the face of the global biodiversity and climate crisis.

"We say thank you to the two hundred and fifty doctors who have taken a stand, putting their patient's futures ahead of the profits of the woodchip barons", said takayna/Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

"If only the Premier would take health advice and immediately declare protection of Tasmania's biodiverse and carbon rich native forests, and a permanent end to native forest logging. We concur with the Doctors that protecting native forests will make a historical contribution to constrain carbon emissions responsible for climate change and protect our health",

"After all, it's just what the doctor ordered".

In Tasmania’s north-west today, two people were arrested during a protest that shut down Venture's Riley Creek mine in takayna / Tarkine. The site has a long history of controversy, with conservationists wanting the region to be protected in a World Heritage listed National Park and returned to Aboriginal ownership.

"Venture Minerals has known the value of this area since before it started exploration. Yet it has wilfully gone into an area that is precious to many Tasmanians, and to people from all around the world, who want this area protected. This company has brought this conflict to our shores," said Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine campaigner Scott Jordan.

"Community resistance is bubbling up all over the globe. In Tasmania’s takayna / Tarkine, we will not back down from defending our ancient wild places. We will continue to fight for the future, for our children and for what is right," Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Organiser Erik Hayward said.

“The Riley creek mine has courted controversy since its inception more than a decade ago. Any profits from this mine threaten to progress more mines elsewhere in takayna / Tarkine. The endangered species in the area, Tasmanians, and the planet would benefit far more from a protected takayna / Tarkine rather than a World Heritage value landscape destroyed by mining, logging and off-road vehicle damage,” said Scott Jordan.

Bob Brown Foundation is carrying out a protest at the controversial Tasmanian Riley Creek mine lease this morning. Community activists have re-entered the site to protest Venture's resumption of operations in the World Heritage value takayna/Tarkine.

Two activists have attached themselves to the gate and mining machinery to call for an end to the mining and protection for takayna/Tarkine.

Venture Minerals recently announced that it was seeking finance for wet screening operations.

"Anyone considering financing this mine should understand the opposition to this mine's environmental impacts and the company's track record of misinforming shareholders and deceptive public statements,” Scott Jordan said.

"While the government stands by and condones the destruction of this important habitat and landscape, members of the community will continue to stand up in defence of the natural and heritage values of the area", said takayna/Tarkine campaigner Scott Jordan.

"This mine will disastrously impact the survival of local Tasmanian Devil and Spotted tailed Quoll populations and will degrade the World Heritage value landscapes,” Scott Jordan said.

“Threats to takayna/Tarkine are relentless. The logging and mining of stripping bare these lands for greed. takayna was looked after by the Tasmanian Aboriginal people before invasion and need to be returned to their management instead of the miners and loggers.

Today the mining madness is being stopped by citizens who will stand up and halt this devastation. We will not give up in defence of our wild and threatened places,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Organiser Erik Hayward said.

“The Tasmanian government are shamefully dragging their heels and failing to protect takayna/Tarkine as a world heritage national park. As long as they destroy its globally significant values we will put the international spotlight on this environmental and climate crime,” Scott Jordan said.

Tree top camps at 132 events across 24 countries finished up today, as forest campaigners and citizens returned to the ground after an incredible show of support for protecting our remaining native forests. From Sabah in Malaysia, Oregon in the USA, Scotland and Australia’s native forests, including the Otways, takayna / Tarkine and south coast NSW.

"The global Big Canopy Campout put takayna / Tarkine on the world stage, where it should be, as one of the world’s last wild places with its globally significant values threatened by logging, mining and off-road vehicle damage. Hundreds of people climbed and camped in trees around the world to raise awareness about how important forests are for the planet, for other creatures and for us,” Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“Australia’s Big Canopy Campouts highlighted threatened forests in Tasmania’s takayna / Tarkine, in the wildlife-filled forests of Victoria, NSW and the frontline activists fighting Adani in central Queensland, who also joined the campout. Australia’s natural environment is under immense threat and needs urgent protection in this age of a biodiversity and climate emergency,” Jenny Weber said.

"Protecting native forests globally is the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to deal with the current extinction crisis. Australia should be leading the way not being one of the worst performers. All these wonderful people who participated in the Big Canopy Campout are part of that way forward," said Bob Brown.

“Clearfell logging was finally phased out in the Otways in 2008 after almost three decades of relentless community action. The only reason we can enjoy this National Park is because of community blockading and we are here to celebrate that. It both inspires and upsets me no end to think that these old myrtles and 60m eucalypts would have long ago become woodchips had it not been for these actions," said Brad Graham, Otways Big Canopy Campout spokesperson.

“’If you think you are too small to make a difference, spend a night with a mosquito’. This makes me laugh every time because it sums up exactly what Big Canopy Campout represents. BCC began as a way to connect individuals, small groups and organisations scattered all over the world doing incredible things to protect, understand and interact positively with forests. It is a platform that we can share once a year to support the work and efforts achieved by others in the fight to preserve our remaining wild spaces,” said Vicki Tough, Big Canopy Campout coordinator in Germany.

“This year has seen an overwhelming amount of support, solidarity and effort put in all over the world and we couldn’t be happier. Bob Brown Foundation has led the way in demonstrating to the world how frontline non-violent action-led campaigns can not only positively impact the future of our forests but are a crucial tool in how we protect our green spaces. I believe that every single person taking part this year has taken inspiration from their achievements and drive. We’re only just getting started! Looking forward to next year already,” Vicki Tough said.

A full bench of the Federal Court will hear the Bob Brown Foundation’s challenge to the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement before Christmas. The court agreed to expedite the hearing. The date is yet to be set.

After a preliminary hearing today, Justice Kerr had agreement from the Foundation and the three respondents, the Commonwealth, Tasmania and Forestry Tasmania for a hearing between 23rd November and 18th December.

“Our case is that the RFA – which itself claims to offer protections under the guise of broadscale elimination of critical forests - is not enforceable and so the RFA is invalid, hence logging and burning of our wildlife-filled native forests is illegal,” Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said today.

“And if we are correct, this will have implications for RFAs – and forests subject to their destructive outcomes – throughout Australia. Like Tasmania, RFAs in NSW, WA and Victoria are notoriously destroying native forests that are rich carbon storehouses and wildlife-filled in an age of biodiversity and climate emergency needs to end once and for all,” Jenny Weber said.

“The nation’s forests and wildlife are on the line. Fortunately, further destruction is avoidable. In 2020 Australia has enough plantations to sustain jobs and meet all our wood needs,” Jenny Weber said.

The world’s largest aerial camping events in the history of forest defence has commenced as climbers take to the canopies of threatened forests in Tasmania’s takayna / Tarkine and across Australia to highlight the importance of Earth’s intact native forests.

“Across the globe, the Big Canopy Campout is happening this weekend with 112 campouts in 24 countries and it is to benefit our Foundation’s fight to defend and protect Australia’s largest rainforest in Tasmania’s takayna / Tarkine.

While the international spotlight is on us here in takayna / Tarkine this year’s campout is also showcasing threatened forests around Australia in Victoria and NSW. Frontline activists fighting the Adani Carmichael mine have also joined the campout from their Central Qld Camp Binbee. Australia’s unique natural environment and wildlife, the Earth’s climate needs protection from ongoing destruction including logging and mining,” Jenny Weber said.

“We’re camping out in Gladstone State Forest on Gumbaynggirr Country in Northern NSW. This forest is one of the last remaining Koala refuges on the East Coast and was miraculously unburnt during last seasons fires. The local community have been blockading here for years and watched NSW Forestry Corporation ramp up their destructive extraction from the forest while we were evacuating or fighting fires. Recently Gumbaynggirr Conservation Group and community allies have successfully kept Forestry Corp from commencing logging in over a third of the forest. We love that the Big Canopy Campout connects us with other communities across the world fighting for our precious life support systems, forests,” said Ruby Oliver-King in Bellingen for the Big canopy Campout.

"We are on the climate frontlines here in Central Queensland stopping the Adani coal mine. But another climate frontline is in our forests, where trees are drawing down carbon from the atmosphere and enabling the biodiversity we need for climate resilience. The climate crisis forces us to see the way human life is entwined with the natural world, and to strive to protect Australia's priceless and diverse forests." said Scott Daines from Camp Binbee

“We are not the first and won’t be the last to wander these lands of takayna / Tarkine. The rainforest we are occupying for this years canopy campout is reminiscent of the Tarkine’s vast rainforests that hold an immense and wild history. It needs to remain intact. The people gathered in takayna this weekend are defiantly defending this forest from industrial logging proposed in the coming summer. We are in solidarity with people all over the world highlighting the systematic and ludicrous demolition of our climate stores, our planet’s forests. We are defiant and will defend these forests from any more destruction,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Organiser Erik Hayward said.