[Greens-Media] Gunns pays out another $52,622

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Wednesday, 20 August 2008

Gunns pays out another $52,622

In the Victorian Supreme Court yesterday Gunns was ordered to pay a
further $52,622 to Australian Greens leader Bob Brown and former
Tasmanian Greens leader Peg Putt after the company failed to carry
through civil charges in the 'Gunns 20' case.

The court has earlier ordered Gunns to pay $69,385 to Brown, Putt and
$17,544 to Tasmanian environmentalist and author Helen Gee, against whom
Gunns withdrew charges against as well.

But the matter is not ended. Master Wood of the Court will further
adjudicate on how much Gunns should pay to cover the costs of Brown,
Putt and Gee on December 4th 2008.

"Gunns shareholders will end up paying these bills. There was no
substance to the charges at the outset and John Gay, CEO for Gunns, owes
an explanation to shareholders about this expensive failure and legal
misadventure," Senator Brown said.

"If the idea was to shut me or my fellow forest advocates up it has had
quite the opposite effect," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603