[Greens-Media] Gunns 'capitulated' to Brown and Putt, says judge

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Gunns 'capitulated' to Brown and Putt, says judge

Giant Tasmanian woodchip corporation Gunns Ltd had 'capitulated' to
Greens Leader Bob Brown and Tasmanian Greens Leader Peg Putt and three
other defendants in its long-running case known as Gunns 20, Justice
Bongiorno ruled in Victoria's Supreme Court this morning. 

Costs were awarded against Gunns. A sixth defendant, Dr Frank Nicklason,
also had his defence upheld, leaving fourteen defendants to face trial.

"It is outrageous that peaceful defenders of Tasmania's ancient forests
and their rare and endangered wildlife now face years before the
Victorian courts as Gunns continues to maraud, log, burn and exterminate
forests in Tasmania," Senator Brown said.

"Gunns should be in the dock, along with Paul Lennon and John Howard,
not those who defend the forests, including the Wielangta forest where
the Federal Court in Hobart has found their proposed logging activities
illegal. 

"By extension, logging of much of Tasmania's forests, which are habitat
for endangered species like the giant Tasmanian wedge-tail eagle is
illegal. The penalty for corporations which threaten rare and endangered
species, in breach of the Environment Protection Biodiversity and
Conservation  Act, is up to $5.5 million. But instead of the logging
industry being arraigned, it is those who want to uphold our national
environment legislation who are in court. 

"The freedom to speak out, as well as the wellbeing of the forests, is
compromised by this action. I will never back off from fighting to end
Gunns' monstrous destruction of forests and wildlife in Tasmania, and
pollution of the atmosphere," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au