Media Release: An 80-years-old advertisement in Hobart’s Macquarie Street is being restored to its former glory
The faded McCann Bros. music store sign advertising ‘Piano and Radio’ on terms of five shillings weekly was painted by Hobart signwriter Max Towell in the 1930s. It is on the south wall of the two-stories brick building ‘Loretto’ at the corner of Macquarie and Warneford Streets.
The Orange-bellied Parrot will become extinct without federal funding
“The Orange-bellied Parrot will go extinct in the wild unless urgent funding is secured” Dr Dejan Stojanovic, conservation biologist with the ANU Difficult Bird Research Group, said in Hobart today. “So far this breeding season only 14 Orange-bellied Parrots, including only 2 females, have returned from migration” he said. “The situation is critical.”
Dr Stojanovic was speaking before tonight’s State Theatre premiere of a new film The Desperate Plight of the Orange-bellied Parrot by photographer David Neilson.
Lake track morphs into motels, roads and luxury campsites
Federation Peak photographed by Bob Brown
“The so-called Geeves Effect plan for a 2.5 kilometre track at Lake Geeves, under Federation Peak, has morphed into a 20 kilometre track and an ‘eco-hub’ with motels, luxury campsites and roads – all at public expense,” Bob Brown said today.
“The business interests branding up this proposal now want millions of public money to bring their commercial plan to fruition,” he said.
“The impact on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, famous for its remoteness and naturalness, would be core degradation,” he said.
Read moreHigh Court victory for Bob Brown’s challenge to Tasmania’s anti-protest laws
Today is a great day for the forests, wildlife and all of nature in Tasmania and around Australia. And a great day for the fundamental right of Australians to peaceful protest.
Australia’s High Court handed down its judgment today in the case brought by former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown and Tasmanian nurse Jessica Hoyt that challenged the constitutional validity of Tasmania’s anti-protest laws.
‘This judgement puts a brake on corporations wanting communities sidelined so they can plunder Tasmania’s unique and job-rich environment, not least its ancient rainforests and tall eucalypts,’ Bob Brown said.
High Court strikes down Tasmania’s excessive anti-protest laws
Bob Brown and Jessica Hoyt outside the High Court of Australia, Canberra
The High Court of Australia has ruled that Tasmania’s excessive anti-protest laws violate the implied freedom of political communication in the Australian Constitution.
This morning, the High Court of Australia handed down its decision in a landmark case which argued that Tasmania’s excessive anti-protest laws violate the implied freedom of political communication in the Australian Constitution. Former Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Tasmanian nurse Jessica Hoyt challenged the excessive anti-protest laws.
‘I am delighted with the judgment by the High Court of Australia’, Bob Brown said.
‘Today is a great day for the forests, wildlife and all of nature in Tasmania and around Australia. And a great day for the fundamental right of Australians to peaceful protest,’ Bob Brown said
‘This judgement puts a brake on corporations wanting communities sidelined so they can plunder Tasmania’s unique and job-rich environment, not least its ancient rainforests and tall eucalypts,’ Bob Brown said.
‘Those calling for harsh penalties against peaceful citizens protesting Adani mine have been put back in their place by the High Court,’ Bob Brown said.
Read moreHodgman Must Now Demonstrate Maturity – Don’t treat takayna / Tarkine as political football
“Aboriginal heritage in takayna is one step closer to permanent protection, with federal agreement that the Hodgman government cannot continue its destruction there without assessment and federal approval. This is what Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has been seeking in court hearings since 2014. A major achievement for us on our way to Aboriginal control and protection of our own heritage,” Sharnie Read, spokesperson for Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said.
Tasmanian Premier should abandon plans to damage National Heritage listed takayna / Tarkine coast
In an embarrassing blow for the Tasmanian government’s attempt to open controversial off-road vehicle tracks on the takayna / Tarkine coast, today the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy has decided that the tracks cannot proceed without assessment and approval under the EPBC Act.
Call to Frydenberg to keep Tarkine tracks closed
The Bob Brown Foundation will host a peaceful demonstration at Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg’s office in Melbourne this morning, calling for protection of the National Heritage listed Western Tasmania Aboriginal Cultural Landscape in the Tarkine wilderness.
When: Today at 9:30AM
Where: Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg’s office in Kooyong.
Renowned Wilderness Man, Les Southwell, Dies Aged 88.
Les Southwell, a towering figure of last century wilderness travel and photography in Tasmania and Victoria, has been found dead in the Victorian alps. He had been separated from companions and was sitting outside his tent near snowy Mt Bogong when he died, aged 88.
Les Southwell, left, with Dave Noble of Sydney discuss wilderness photography in the Labyrinth near Lake St Clair, Tasmania, 2008. Photo courtesy John Robens.
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Labor Abandon Globally Significant Aboriginal and Natural Values in Tarkine
The Bob Brown Foundation says most Tasmanians will be bitterly disappointed by the Tasmanian Opposition Leader’s statement this morning on Hobart’s ABC radio that she will support the decision of the Federal Environment Minister if he allows the tracks on takayna / Tarkine coast to be accessed by off-road vehicles. This comes after Federal Labor Senators voted against protecting Aboriginal heritage on takayna / Tarkine coast in the Senate yesterday.
