ABC Online:
Protests declared a safety risk
Tasmania’s Infrastructure Department has accused activists of risking the safety of workers during a protest to protect Aboriginal relics.
Police arrested 21 people when they scaled fences and climbed onto machinery at the Brighton Bypass construction site north of Hobart yesterday.
The protesters were trying to stop the construction of a bridge over a site containing Aboriginal artefacts that are 42,000 years old.
The Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Norm McIlfatrick says it was a dangerous situation.
“I am concerned though that the safety of our workers and the Aboriginal protesters are at risk,” he said.
“If you think about an excavator, it’s very difficult to manoeuvre one of those machines.”
“It’s 20 tonne and the driver would have difficulty,” Mr McIlfatrick said.
Earlier on Tasmanian Times: Mathew Newton’s Picture Essays:
Friday, April 15:
Brighton Bypass: Arrests at the Thin Blue Line. James Crotty. Sue Neales
Thursday, April 14:
Pictures of a Protest: Brighton Bypass, Thursday, April 14
James Crotty, comment: Government is formed by a political party or group. I once wanted to be in government. My view then was the ALP best fitted my beliefs about the role of government. In reality there is no such thing as the ALP as any discernible coherent notion. Some individuals band together to get influence. Some are better at it than others and get to the top. This lot lost me when they gave away the singular relief from despotism that generations had literally died for; and that is review by the courts. And all for the sake of building some pathetic mill. This ANZAC day don’t just think about those in military service who died to preserve our perceived freedoms, but also those who survived lock outs and police truncheons to bring about the democratic society we have today. Despotism was as much at home as abroad. And that’s why, until someone shows me why not, my support will be with those remnants of race we continue to oppress.
James Crotty’s comment was first made on this thread, Brighton Bypass: Arrests at the Thin Blue Line. James Crotty. Sue Neales
