25 Tasmanians Arrested Outside Parliament House

LUCY LANDON-LANE, MEDIA RELEASE – Thursday 27th August
Call for a Royal Commission into Pulp Mill Corruption

Twenty-five Tasmanians were arrested today as they peacefully protested outside the State Parliament House in Hobart. They had assembled to demand the establishment of a Royal Commission into the corruption surrounding the Pulp Mill process.

Lucy Landon-Lane, one of the arrestees, is one of three Tamar Valley landowners who recently challenged the State Government in the Supreme Court over the Pulp Mill Assessment 2007-Act (PMAA) said:

Were here to express our outrage that the Government continues to ignore the communitys concerns about Gunns proposed pulp mill, and the lack of redress the community has under the Pulp Mill Assessment Act.

The peaceful assembly by members of the community took place outside Parliament House on Thursday 27 August, at 1.15pm.

Ms Landon Lane said Potential Joint Venture Partners and State and Federal Governments can expect civil disobedience unless:

1. The PMAA is repealed and

2., A Royal Commission into the corruption surrounding the pulp mill process is established

Ms Landon-Lanes father, retired judge Edward Butler was also among the fifty people who peacefully assembled. He said it was empowering to see the determination of the mostly middle-aged group, who felt their concerns were consistently being ignored by the State Government.

Those who chose to stay on Parliament House steps were arrested and charged for failing to comply with the police directive to move. They were released shortly afterwards under bail conditions which include not returning to Parliament House for 24 hours.

Non-violence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article of my creed.

(Mahatma Gandhi)