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Recherche Bay
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Posted on
Susan Westcott
April 14, 2005 at 05:58
To Lindsay Tuffin and all who want Tasmania to have free speech. Great to visit your website for the first time Lindsay.
I was demonstrating recently at the Museum in Launceston when the French Masters exhibition was on.
My sole demonstration was against the logging plans which Gunns have for Recherche Bay. After my peaceful demonstration as I waited for my friend to take me home, I was accosted by a man dressed in a tuxedo. This man told me to “piss off” and that I was a “disgrace to Tasmanians”. I was on public land and as I am 53 I was alarmed and angered by this person’s bullying behaviour.
The local “rag” more commonly known as the Launceston Examiner newspaper were approached that evening in the vain hope that support for my protest might be given in the interests of free speech.
The Examiner’s response to this doctor’s request that the paper give me publicity was to immediately ring the police. The police arrived to investigate.
I had given them no reason for complaint but it seems to me that the lack of a free press in the state’s north is a serious affliction to freedom in Tasmania.
I know others who feel like this.
I hope your on-line paper has a great future Lindsay and that people give up buying the other notorious newsprint.
Susan Westcott