Arrested Lapoinya Forest Protesters Charges Dropped in Burnie Magistrates Court Today

From Left to Right: Barbara Hoyt, John Henshaw, Brett Donoghue, Roger Bradley

John Henshaw, Roger Bradley and Brett Donoghue, arrested in the Lapoinya Forest protests this past summer, faced the Magistrates Court in Burnie at 10 AM today, Monday, 27 June 2016.

They were charged with failing to obey a police instruction under the Liberal Government’s “Anti-Protester Act” 2014.

The Prosecution failed to tender any evidence to support the charges, therefore the Magistrate ruled that there was no case to answer and the three defendants were free to go.

The Defence requested that costs be awarded to the defendants.

This issue will be require further submissions.

It is the opinion of FLAG that the present Liberal Government cannot continue to blame others (e.g. the Police) for their unworkable and discriminatory laws targeting communities which disagree with the practices of protected government business enterprises and other favoured corporations.

That these laws are the subject of a High Court Challenge speaks volumes as to their fairness and/or validity.

There is one more Court appearance yet to be scheduled regards the “Anti-Protester Act”, that of Barbara Hoyt who elected to have the issue heard in the Magistrates Court.

To date, there has been no response from the authorized authorities.

She was fined after allegedly failing to obey a police instruction on the same day as John Henshaw was arrested.

Authorized by: Stewart Hoyt
Stewart Hoyt, convenor for Forests of Lapoinya Action Group (FLAG)